Hello,

A mom that I have been supporting since she took a pre-natal
breastfeeding class with me is experiencing tremendous discrimination/
disperate treatment in the office related to breastfeeding. For example
his mom was told that she should not take so much time to pump, and when
she pointed out that she was pumping within the break times that are
allowed for all employees, she was then told that she should not pump on
a regular schedule so that people would not know what she was doing. All
employees are generally permitted to use the phones or internet for
occasional personal reasons during down time, she has been told that she
may not do this at all if she wishes to keep her job.  The baby's father
also works in the same building on a different shift, and he used to
bring the baby in to hand off to mom at the end of her shift.  The
employer has now "banned their baby from the building."   So they have
to do the hand-off  outside.

Her baby is six months old and is exclusively breastfed, but between the
restrictions on pumping imposed by her employer and stress, the mom is
beginning to have problems with her supply, not to mention the fact that
she is miserable.  At this point she feels that she has no choice but to
quit and file an EEOC complaint, because the employer continues to
change the restrictions and complaints as she finds solutions.  Mom has
been documenting this since it became apparent to her that the employer
was not interested in finding mutually agreeable solutions.

If anyone has thought or suggestions for this mom regarding who she may
want to talk to about this (attorney or otherwise) it would be greatly
appreciated.  The mom works in Washington DC in the private sector (not
government).

Thanks!

Trish Thacskton
lactation educator in VA

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