Comments on: Curb Your Enthusiasm About the New Federal Workplace Pumping Law

By: What to Expect When You’re Expecting . . . for Natural Parents | Natural Parents Network

Sat, 27 Aug 2011 16:58:00 +0000

[...] Curb Your Enthusiasm About the New Federal Workplace Pumping Law [...]

By: shelley

shelley — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 23:21:04 +0000

just left work madder that anything did you no the new laws for breastfeeding is all jacked up. ok large business get a tax ride off for supporting breast feeding moms but their not required to pay the pumping mom for there much needed break to not only elevate their pain from being full of milk but also making sure there child can eat while the mother is away. but i went though l this law today just now and found no where, where you cant pump at your work station to avoid loosing pay. so i say pump in front of your customer, in front of your computer, beside your fellow employee, while your teaching, while your speaking in front of groups and don’t hide it. i think to fix this law we should do a sit down in a public place and feed our baby’s and pump our breast to show we (breast feeding mothers) need to be treated better than this.

By: Jake

Jake — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 17:05:46 +0000

Excellent point @Catherine. Your need for access to pump space should be taken into account when assigning your work responsibilities.

By: Catherine

Catherine — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 16:44:15 +0000

Breastfeeding moms who travel for work also have problems which are not supported by this legislation. While my office does have a lactation room, I am also expected to travel between offices, and commuting time may exceed the time between pumping. Since this is a temporary condition, it seems that there ought to be better protections for workers who need accommodations made for them through this first year.

By: Jake

Jake — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 01:46:43 +0000

Thanks.

By: Sarah Miner

Sarah Miner — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 20:48:05 +0000

Jake,
Thanks for breaking this complicated, convoluted new development in pumping at work into easily digested, bite-size chunks. It is a great resource for those helping mothers (and mothers themselves) to understand what the options are for managing the needs of their baby while working outside the home.

By: U.S. Department of Labor Issues Fact Sheet on New Workplace Pumping Law | Sustainable Mothering

Fri, 23 Jul 2010 16:42:47 +0000

[...] law requiring certain employers to give unpaid pump breaks to certain employees (and my advice to Curb Your Enthusiasm), the U.S. Department of Labor has issued a Fact [...]

By: Sunday Surf » The Road Less Traveled To Parenthood » Baby Dust Diaries

Sunday Surf » The Road Less Traveled To Parenthood » Baby Dust Diaries — Wed, 19 May 2010 15:24:52 +0000

[...] Curb Your Enthusiasm About the New Federal Workplace Pumping Law at Sustainable Mothering – Must read about the Health Care Bill’s pumping at work provision. [...]

By: Marion Rice

Marion Rice — Tue, 11 May 2010 21:25:41 +0000

Yes! What happened in Oregon is better than what seems to be the case nationally. We have much work to do in Oregon still! At least we have opened the door to a national conversation. Thank you for talking about the realities of the national law. There is SO much work to do and absolutely increasing capacity to support workplace lactation was the intent of that legislation. The reality as you point out appears to be different. Thanks for this blog post.. Now how can we work together to get where we need to be and make sure the law meshes with what was intended.

By: Jake

Jake — Tue, 11 May 2010 20:16:28 +0000

Sounds like the glass really is half-full in Oregon, Marion. I am just not convinced the federal law fills the glass much at all.

It is very interesting to hear what is happening in Oregon. I completely agree with you that a law alone is not enough and that breastfeeding advocates must be prepared to offer resources to employers as well as employees. Many employers do not want to discuss breasts with their employees and have a justified fear of raising such issues. Employers are unsure of where the lines are with regard to sex discrimination – as are lawyers and courts for that matter. Some employers need these laws as permission rather than as punishment.

Improvement in workplace support for breastfeeding absolutely does need to be a collaboration among public and private sector, law and cultural change. Law alone will not change everything and cultural shift still leaves women who need the ability to use law to protect their rights.

Thanks for all you are doing in Oregon.