Pumping at work

[2dumbdogs]

So I know our employers are required to provide places to pump... but I have never worked anywhere that had a place with unrestricted access/doors to lock/etc. We are so tight on non-production space I can't even imagine where they would put one! We have a first aid room but it's not private and quite a few people can access it at any time.

Any advice for the eventual fight I'm going to have with my employer for somewhere to pump? Anyone ever successfully gotten a space?

[pmcd886]

I used my classroom when my students were at specials. There were a couple times when we ended up not having a special. My principal would watch my class, and I would pump in her office. Also, if I was going to the district office for training I would just email whomever was in charge and let them know ahead of time that I would need somewhere to pump. I never had any issues.

[quietdownfish]

I also had a difficult time finding a private place. My advice is to discuss this with your manager. Tell him/her you know it's a long way off, but you are trying to be as prepared as possible. If he/she has no advice, go to HR. I eventually just gave up and started pumping at my desk. But I work in an office of all women, so for me it was no biggie.

Hopefully you can get a plan in place before the big show!

[gidgetgirl08]

I have been successful twice. They are legally responsible to provide a space, however, it does not have to be comfortable. For me, the first time came down to them putting a knob that locks on a teeny (barely fit table/chair and me) storage-like room. At least it had a light and a window. the second time, same employer was moving into a building that had less office space and had to up-fit a team breakout room with a lock and frosted door window. This one was MUCH more comfortable, but felt slightly less private... since at times there would be people waiting at the door for me to finish so they could start their meeting.

[2dumbdogs]

For added info, i am the only female in a department of about 20, and work in an open cubicle. I am an engineer in a manufacturing plant...

[2dumbdogs]

Jan 15, 2015 11:13:42 GMT -5 gidgetgirl08 said:

I have been successful twice. They are legally responsible to provide a space, however, it does not have to be comfortable. For me, the first time came down to them putting a knob that locks on a teeny (barely fit table/chair and me) storage-like room. At least it had a light and a window. the second time, same employer was moving into a building that had less office space and had to up-fit a team breakout room with a lock and frosted door window. This one was MUCH more comfortable, but felt slightly less private... since at times there would be people waiting at the door for me to finish so they could start their meeting.

So awkward! (the conference room situation) did you have to... schedule it then?

[malelz]

I am quite worried about this as well. The only place they have available for me to pump in the store is the office, but there is a camera in there that constantly feeds and records. I am not comfortable pumping on camera. I don't really know how this will work out.

[pmcd886]

Jan 15, 2015 11:26:25 GMT -5 @aliam20 said:

Jan 15, 2015 11:20:02 GMT -5 malelz said:

I am quite worried about this as well. The only place they have available for me to pump in the store is the office, but there is a camera in there that constantly feeds and records. I am not comfortable pumping on camera. I don't really know how this will work out.

I would 100% fight that. Or tell them you'll cover the camera with whiteout.

Yeah. There is no way I would be pumping in front of a camera.

[atty]

Best advice I can give is to talk to your employers ahead of time. They should know their obligation to provide a space, and if they don't, send them to the DOL website. It has a great Q&A on the topic.

I'm often on the side of trying o find space for employees to pump and have made all sorts of accommodations - installed door locks on offices, screens for windows, a separate room altogether, etc. FYI, the accommodation cannot be a restroom either (which is some smaller employer's usual go-to).

Edited to add: having a camera nullifies the privacy they are supposed to provide. You should never have to pump there, but they may allow
You to turn it on and off to pump, or to cover it while you pump. That may be viewed as a reasonable accommodation.

[malelz]

Jan 15, 2015 11:57:37 GMT -5 atty said:

Best advice I can give is to talk to your employers ahead of time. They should know their obligation to provide a space, and if they don't, send them to the DOL website. It has a great Q&A on the topic.

I'm often on the side of trying o find space for employees to pump and have made all sorts of accommodations - installed door locks on offices, screens for windows, a separate room altogether, etc. FYI, the accommodation cannot be a restroom either (which is some smaller employer's usual go-to).

Edited to add: having a camera nullifies the privacy they are supposed to provide. You should never have to pump there, but they may allow
You to turn it on and off to pump, or to cover it while you pump. That may be viewed as a reasonable accommodation.

I would be okay with covering the camera, but I don't know if they would be. It monitors the safe. If not, there isn't another room here unless they build one. Maybe this will facilitate a transfer downtown. I would love an office position again, even with a little commute.

[jgesi]

Question: why can't it be a bathroom? Is it a comfort thing or a sanitation thing?

[pmcd886]

Jan 15, 2015 12:17:04 GMT -5 jgesi said:

Question: why can't it be a bathroom? Is it a comfort thing or a sanitation thing?

Sanitation is my understanding. 

[malelz]

Jan 15, 2015 12:10:57 GMT -5 @aliam20 said:

Jan 15, 2015 12:02:27 GMT -5 malelz said:

I would be okay with covering the camera, but I don't know if they would be. It monitors the safe. If not, there isn't another room here unless they build one. Maybe this will facilitate a transfer downtown. I would love an office position again, even with a little commute.

They found 2 closets in my work location that the facilities department converted into a "room" and threw in an electrical outlet. I'm sure there's a closet somewhere that isn't 100% absolutely needed, which is most likely storing crap anyways.... lol

There is literally not one closet in here except the mop and cleaning supplies closet. Being a liquor store with tons of breakage, they aren't going to move that. I am actually okay with this, I really want to change positions. This could be perfect!

[2dumbdogs]

Jan 15, 2015 12:36:35 GMT -5 @aliam20 said:

Jan 15, 2015 12:32:46 GMT -5 malelz said:

There is literally not one closet in here except the mop and cleaning supplies closet. Being a liquor store with tons of breakage, they aren't going to move that. I am actually okay with this, I really want to change positions. This could be perfect!

I hope it works out in your favor! I know one of the closets in my main office was used to store the cleaners garbage cans/give them a place to sleep/hide.. They now keep them in the hallway next to the freight elevator and can no longer use it to hide/sleep in.

Win win for the company then!

[karlamo]

My work had me pump in a conference room that you couldn't lock. I put a sign on the door not to disturb. I would have loved to wrote "pumping in progress". I would sit with my back to the door in case someone entered. Which happened several times. I surprisely didn't care if someone walked in. They were more embarrassed than me.

Sometimes I got to use my bosses office of the room was in use. My issue was actually with them making me punch out when I pumped. I couldn't get paid during that time.

[gidgetgirl08]

Jan 15, 2015 11:17:02 GMT -5 2dumbdogs said:

Jan 15, 2015 11:13:42 GMT -5 gidgetgirl08 said:

I have been successful twice. They are legally responsible to provide a space, however, it does not have to be comfortable. For me, the first time came down to them putting a knob that locks on a teeny (barely fit table/chair and me) storage-like room. At least it had a light and a window. the second time, same employer was moving into a building that had less office space and had to up-fit a team breakout room with a lock and frosted door window. This one was MUCH more comfortable, but felt slightly less private... since at times there would be people waiting at the door for me to finish so they could start their meeting.

So awkward! (the conference room situation) did you have to... schedule it then?

I did have to schedule it. I think this time I will schedule it for 30-40 minutes at a time so I don't have that situation again.

[karlamo]

Jan 15, 2015 13:19:51 GMT -5 @aliam20 said:

Jan 15, 2015 13:16:50 GMT -5 karlamo said:

My work had me pump in a conference room that you couldn't lock. I put a sign on the door not to disturb. I would have loved to wrote "pumping in progress". I would sit with my back to the door in case someone entered. Which happened several times. I surprisely didn't care if someone walked in. They were more embarrassed than me.

Sometimes I got to use my bosses office of the room was in use. My issue was actually with them making me punch out when I pumped. I couldn't get paid during that time.

I had to use my lunch hour since I get paid for lunch. So I pumped 3x a day for 20 mins a pump..

For some reason I felt i should have been entitled to get paid while I pumped. But apparently the law disagrees with me.

[gidgetgirl08]

Jan 15, 2015 13:31:53 GMT -5 karlamo said:

Jan 15, 2015 13:19:51 GMT -5 @aliam20 said:

I had to use my lunch hour since I get paid for lunch. So I pumped 3x a day for 20 mins a pump..

For some reason I felt i should have been entitled to get paid while I pumped. But apparently the law disagrees with me.

If people get paid to take two 15 minute smoke breaks a day, I'm going to pump on the clock too and dare them to say anything.

[svenskalamb13]

I worked in a hospital when I needed to pump. There was a special room for women who needed to pump or lactation help.

[skinandbones]

Here is some information about the actual law. It looks like they only need to comply if there are over 50 employees.

Click Me

[karlamo]

Jan 15, 2015 14:11:50 GMT -5 skinandbones said:

href="http://http://www.usbreastfeeding.org/Employment/WorkplaceSupport/WorkplaceSupportinFederalLaw/tabid/175/Default.aspx"]link

[/a]

Here is some information about the actual law. It looks like they only need to comply if there are over 50 employees. [/quote]


I can't click the link. I know I've read it before a long time ago. Does it mention being paid or just providing the space?

[skinandbones]

Sorry, ladies. I've fixed the original link.

[2dumbdogs]

Jan 15, 2015 14:11:50 GMT -5 skinandbones said:

Here is some information about the actual law. It looks like they only need to comply if there are over 50 employees.

Click Me

Just my plant is 1400. In the US alone we probably have 20k employees. They have to comply. I'm just stressing about them actually doing it without a lot of work on my part. I don't plan on confessing my pregnancy for as long as i can hide it.