© 2022 Fairygodboss. All rights reserved.
I recently came back to work after my maternity leave. It's a busy job, and I've been squeezing in pumping breaks in between meetings.
Yesterday, my coworker actually asked to come into the pumping room to discuss a project since she couldn't find time on my calendar. How do I explain that this is NOT OK?!
Anonymous
04/25/18 at 12:51AM UTC
Deal with it or quit.
Anonymous
03/01/18 at 6:30PM UTC
I am not sure if I'm missing something here or not, but I'm going to say that you don't have to actually explain anything. Part of empowering women is empowering them to say no without more of an explanation than that. If you wanted to add your personal information to that, that's up to you, but your pumping breaks are your Personal Time. Just like any other Bio-break. Ask her if she'd like you to schedule the meeting for adjoining stalls in the Ladies Room?
Anonymous
11/28/17 at 5:36PM UTC
Could you offer to talk to your co-worker say over lunch, or call her during your commute? Maybe she doesn’t understand what pumping entails (usually being half-naked and trying to think milky thoughts about your baby)? Sounds like you are trying really hard to be professional and polite with this person - I probably would have just said “no, dude.”
Anonymous
10/04/17 at 4:56AM UTC
Did you combine your CFRA leave (baby bonding) with FMLA leave? If not you should check out https://recovermywages.com/fmla-medical-leave-in-california/
Anonymous
09/26/17 at 8:31PM UTC
Some things are just private and pumping is one such thing. Pumping in front of your co-worker is not like pumping in front of your bestie or your sister... explain that for you this is like going to the toilet, t's private and you need to be relaxed when you pump. I'm pretty sure she'll get the hint.
Anonymous
09/04/17 at 11:49PM UTC
CA has a great resource for breastfeeding & pumping when you return to work. Even if you aren't in CA, there is great language here to help you figure out how to tell your colleague that pumping is a critical part of childcare, pregnancy and childbirth. https://www.worklawyers.net/breastfeeding-employment-laws-california/
Anonymous
08/09/17 at 2:25AM UTC
I would approach her somewhere private and just say that pumping is a very personal thing, both from a physical standpoint and from a mental standpoint (it's hard for your body to make milk if you're uncomfortable). Sometimes when I need to talk with a coworker and they're only available when I'm pumping, I will IM them or send an email. Maybe that's a more reasonable option?
© 2022 Fairygodboss. All rights reserved.