One more follow up regarding advocacy and the law.  I am currently working
with a mother who now has a legal problem because she did not know how to be
an effective advocate for herself.  She attempted to work with her
employer to resolve her need to pump at work and handled it so poorly that
she ended up fired.

Now, this was certainly not entirely fault. If her employer had policies and
procedures in place with respect to breastfeeding, and had trained the
managers on how to handle breastfeeding issues this woman would likely still
be at her job.  But, we aren't there yet.  So, this woman had to be her own
advocate but was woefully lacking in the advocacy department.

Liz, I believe that had you or I or Janice spoken with this woman before she
spoke to her boss she may still have her job.  Any one of us would have
helped give her the advocacy tools she lacked.  And, we would have done so
in the name of helping a mother and her baby maybe with a legal problem,
maybe not.  Was it a legal problem before she lost her job?

For those of you looking for an outlet for your advocacy skills, look to
your local Breastfeeding Coalition or Task Force and if you don't have one,
start one.  Let me know if you need assistance in starting one.  I can help.
  The Breastfeeding Task Force of Greater Los Angeles is doing incredible
work here in Los Angeles.

Warmly,

Alexis

Alexis Martin Neely, Esq.
Mama to Kaia Ray Neely (11/2/99)

"Breastfeeding support is an integral part of the family/friendly workplace
environment." -Work & Family Coalition of San Diego
How have you supported breastfeeding today?


Alexis Martin Neely, Esq.
Mama to Kaia Ray Neely (11/2/99)

"Breastfeeding support is an integral part of the family/friendly workplace
environment." -Work & Family Coalition of San Diego
How have you supported breastfeeding today?


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