Pumping in the workplace - laws

Re: Pumping in the workplace - laws

• AmandaJean12 member

  August 2014

  Us dept of labor website under nursing mothers

  
  

  Report4 Reply
• Loading the player...
• Emerald27 member

  August 2014 edited August 2014

  https://www.dol.gov/whd/nursingmothers/faqBTNM.htm
  
  ETA: Federal breastfeeding laws pertain to salaried AND hourly employees. Unless your school is exempt (which I highly highly doubt), your employer is required to provide you reasonable break times and a suitable place for pumping. I'm sorry you're meeting resistance. No mother should have to deal with that.

  
  

  
  

  

  Report15 Reply
• Jbunny100 member

  August 2014

  The place where they give you to pump must also have a lock on it. 

  @meagpt22 You can always get a hands free pump and continue to work on a computer (if that's the type of job you have).  You can also just take a shorter lunch break.  We I went back (just for a short time), I would take 2 15 minute breaks to pump and a 30 minute lunch (I would pump during this too).  That way I wasn't eating into my normal productivity time.

   

   

  ;

  

  Report0 Reply
• cmcookaln member

  August 2014

  I briefly remember seeing somewhere under my County School District website about the guidelines for breastfeeding which were based on federal laws.  They have to give you time and a location.  If that employer won't budge, move up the ranks.

  Report0 Reply
• MrsSarahRenee member

  August 2014

  Thanks all!
  I almost tagged you in the post @emerald27.
  Just a bunch of men in administration who have wives who stay at home with the kids - they just don't seem to get it.
  Anyway, I think showing them this stuff will help! You guys rock.

  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  Report1 Reply
• JessAnnJ member

  August 2014

  meagpt22 said:

  In my state they have to allow times to pump but don't have to pay you for that time. I'm salaried so that could mean I'll have to stay later to make up for time pumping. Unfortunately with child care issues I can't do that so won't be able to pump during the day. I haven't spoken to my boss yet but assume based on how she is with productivity being tracked that she'll tell me to stay later to make up time.

  I think most employers don't pay you for the time pumping but if you can't pump and work you can use your lunch and your two 15 minute breaks so it should not eat up too much of your day. If you find that three sessions are too much you can try for two.

  

  
  

  
  
  
  

  Report0 Reply
• MrsL2B member

  August 2014

  If you're in a job classification that's FSLA exempt, I'm pretty sure the only thing that means you're exempt from are the laws about overtime. Everything else under the FSLA still applies.
  
  I'm not an attorney, but I read through all this pretty carefully to make sure my employer still had to provide a place for me to pump. Not that they've acted on it yet.

  
  

  

  Report0 Reply
• Emerald27 member

  August 2014

  @meagpt22‌ Definitely contact an IBCLC sooner rather than later. If you're routinely going more than a few hours without pumping, you will be extremely uncomfortable for a while as your supply diminishes.
  
  When your breasts become full, your body releases FIL (feedback inhibitor of lactation) telling your breasts to make less milk and reducing your supply. You have a tricky work situation, but I would encourage you to talk with someone about a pumping plan at work that might suit your needs. If you're able to pump right when you get to work, for 5 minutes between clients every hour or so, at lunch, and before you leave for home, you may be able to pump enough to maintain your supply AND to feed LO while you're away.

  
  

  
  

  

  Report1 Reply
• andreaadam member

  August 2014

  I'm also a physical therapist. With my first I just added on 2, 30 minute time slots to my schedule each day to accommodate pumping. It was somewhat annoying to stay later because I was pumping, but I knew I wanted to pump for awhile at least. When I no longer pumped I just had them adjust my schedule back.
  
  I'm at a different clinic now and am trying to figure out where I will pump. It's looking like it will be a toy closet with a do not disturb sign up since the smaller treatment rooms are usually full.

  

  Report0 Reply