Community› The Bump Message Boards› Working Moms
Working Moms
New Discussion

Pumping Vent

syang5syang5 member
in Working Moms

OMG I am so annoyed.

I absolutely hate pumping and my job makes me hate it even more. I am a paralegal in a law firm of about 100 employees and we have one room called a "Quiet room" which can be used for pumping. It is the most depressing room about the size of a closet with a couch. All the mothers in the office I have talked to that pumped hated it.

80% of the time I don't have a problem with anyone being in the room during my pumping schedule, but 20% of the time when someone is in there they use it for 30 minutes or more totally messing up my pumping and work schedule. I noticed that one of the attorneys who was also pumping got a blind put up in her office to cover the window part so she could pump.

I asked HR if I could get a blind so that I could keep working and not have to worry about someone occupying the room. There was a lot of back and forth and they basically said no because I'm not an attorney and do not have an "outside" aka big office. I asked if I could just use brown construction paper to cover my window and again the answer was no, but they would be willing to find "another room" if needed.

Anyway the attorney who got the blind installed was nice enough to let me use her office since she works out of our other office 90% of the time. A couple of minutes ago I go to the quiet room to pump and it is occupied so I head to her office. As I'm getting ready to start I turn around and notice the blind is gone.

WOW. I'm sure it's because someone noticed I've used her office a few times. anyway pretty annoyed...so...going to see if the quiet room is free.

Report Reply to Post

Re: Pumping Vent

  • syang5syang5 member
    Thanks all! Yes I've noticed people walking out from naps a few times and cringed. I'll definitely have a talk with HR again if it continues. I usually bring my phone in and listen to podcasts or surf the net which does help.
    Report Reply
  • Loading the player...
  • catahoulattecatahoulatte member
    I'd definitely ask to have a schedule put on the door. Our pumping room sounds very similar. It's basically a desk, chair, trash can, and 4 blank walls. When I was pumping, the two other moms and I would email back and forth to set a schedule. If there's more than that, I'd go ahead and ok it with HR and put a calendar up on the outside.
                                       
    image     
         


    image    AlternaTickers - Cool, free Web tickers
    Report Reply
  • Mustardseed2007Mustardseed2007 member
    I don't know what your window is like but could you put the construction paper up and then take it down when you're done? Just keep it rolled up or folded up in a corner? It's really ridiculous that they won't let you have blinds.


    Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker
    Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker
     
    \image  image


    Report Reply
  • bumpuser10331514bumpuser10331514 member
    Dude, next time the room is not available, go back to your office, leave the door open and pump. Take advantage of the fact that you can handle other people being around while you pump and make it work for you. I bet whoever took that blind down will suddenly realize that they actually wanted the blind *up.* In fact, I bet everyone will suddenly be in support of your privacy.
    One boy (11.26.12) and one girl (2.28.14)
    Report Reply
  • bumpuser10331514bumpuser10331514 member
    Btw, I hope you have a really loud pump that makes an awful, moist schwicking sound with a "thunk" at the end, or it sounds like someone having an asthma attack.
    One boy (11.26.12) and one girl (2.28.14)
    Report Reply
  • bumpuser10331514bumpuser10331514 member
    FYI: I decided I didn't want to use the nursing room b/c it's several floors up and I hated hauling my stuff all over. So I just asked for a blind and omitted why I wanted it. They gave it to me and even if my boss did have a problem with it, I knew it was a conversation he never, ever wanted to have.
    One boy (11.26.12) and one girl (2.28.14)
    Report Reply
  • syang5syang5 member
     
    SomebabiesMom said:
    Dude, next time the room is not available, go back to your office, leave the door open and pump. Take advantage of the fact that you can handle other people being around while you pump and make it work for you. I bet whoever took that blind down will suddenly realize that they actually wanted the blind *up.* In fact, I bet everyone will suddenly be in support of your privacy.


    lol I wish I had the balls to do this. but to make matters even WORSE, today I go downstairs (our office is two floors and I'm on the higher floor) and I knew there was an attorney who just got back from maternity leave and I notice that her office has a BLIND installed already!! WTF? I understand that attorneys may get special treatment when it comes to things that have to do with their JOBS but pumping has NOTHING to do with your role in the organization.

    Isn't this some sort of discrimination?!

    Report Reply
  • emberlee3emberlee3 member
    That is ridiculous. Sorry you are dealing with such jerks.
    DS born 8/8/09 and DD born 6/12/12.
    Report Reply
  • syang5syang5 member
    K3am said:

    If you have walls and a door, could you make a do not disturb sign for the window indicating your pumping that coincidentally blocks the whole window, and then remove when you're done?


    Our offices all have glass walls, so obviously wouldn't work here, but I had a friend who wasn't allowed to put up a curtain and that's basically what she did. 
    I have a door and small window pane about 1 foot wide. I've asked if I could cover it and pump and unfortunately they said no. The attorneys who have blinds do not have locks on their doors either so they have printed do not disturb signs they tape up when pumping. Unfortunately I'm just a lowly paralegal and my family related issues mean nothing to this firm.
    Report Reply
  • SecondTimeinMSUSecondTimeinMSU member
    Is there anyone in your position that has no window at all that you could switch with? A little over a year ago I voluntarily moved to a much smaller office when we were reshuffling people with the intention that I'd be having another baby and want to have an office without an internal window to pump in.  It meant being stuck forever with a less nice office but it is paying dividends now. Maybe you could propose a win-win trade with someone else who'd like to upgrade to a window??
    Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker
    Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker
    The bumpie formerly known as First Time in MI
    Report Reply
  • shannmshannm member
    This is so bizarre to me. Have you contacted the hr person above the person who said you couldn't have a blind or temporary cover?
    What would happen if you just tacked up a cover when you pumped and than took it down. Do you really think someone would care enough to make a stink about it?
    Report Reply
  • syang5syang5 member
    shannm said:
    This is so bizarre to me. Have you contacted the hr person above the person who said you couldn't have a blind or temporary cover? What would happen if you just tacked up a cover when you pumped and than took it down. Do you really think someone would care enough to make a stink about it?
    I think i should have just done it initially and not asked, but because I asked and they said no I think they will make a big deal about it unfortunately.
    Report Reply
This discussion has been closed.
Choose Another Board
Search Boards
"
"