(no subject)

[bronwynrh]

1. This is second-hand, but apparently the sound of our breastpumps is "distracting" people. The person then backtracked, hemming and hawing about "know it's natural, but..."
2. Ok, then why are you making us pump in a cubicle that is one of 4 in a group, the other three occupied by MEN?
3. We could do it in the offices within our laboratories.
4. Key word, lady, is "laboratories". Hello, OSHA? There's a chick makin' like a cow in our lab, is that ok? No? You're shutting us down? Oh, shit. Hello, CLIA? ditto ditto ditto.
5. We could do it in the handicap stall of the bathroom.
6. Operative word here, and I grant it's implied, is "toilet". Also no power outletthe power outlet is 6 inches from the toilet seat, no table, no chair. Have you ever seen a breastpump? Do you know how they work? Ok, well I'll show you and then you'll understand why your idea is ludicrous.
7. Also, EW!
8. I'm one of two women who are pumping. A third woman is pregnant and plans to pump. Apparently this makes us qualify for "you guys" status, and this sudden explosion of pumps is distressing to some.
9. Again with the "then give us a cubicle way the hell over there and get a white noise generator for chrissakes" suggestion.
10. We could do it in the closet of the main conference room.
11. And, if there's someone having a meeting, can I just waltz in and go into the closet? If I'm in the closet and someone starts a meeting, can I just waltz on out? No? Then try again.

Yes, I understand they are under no obligation to do anything for us. I know that. You know what this tells me, though? It tells me they're jerks because they'd rather say, "I don't have to help you, so I won't" than say, "I don't have to help you, but I want to, so I will".

Also, I still don't understand people's hangups about breastfeeding. Ok, you don't want to watch me do it, fine. But to gripe because you can hear the pump and you know what's going on and that makes you uncomfortable? What the frack? These aren't toys, you know. This isn't fun for me. This is what I have to do. Get over yourself.

I'm angry, and trying not to be.
I'm failing.

Comments

[mysterygal11.livejournal.com]

I don't blame you for being angry. It's 2007, not 1953! You shouldn't have to deal with this. How hard could it possibly be to give you an appropriate place to pump?!?!

[bramey.livejournal.com]

they think it's pretty fuckin' hard, apparently


*grumble*

[whizkid1357.livejournal.com]

Stupid people. Also how rude.

They ought to provide a closed office that way no bothering/disturbing others and also providing some privacy.

Gah!

[bramey.livejournal.com]

You're right. Maybe I'm ignorant of some critical something, but this doesn't seem as though it should be so difficult.

[whizkid1357.livejournal.com]

I can't imagine what might be preventing them from doing this.

[miss-manners.livejournal.com]

But to gripe because you can hear the pump and you know what's going on and that makes you uncomfortable? What the frack? These aren't toys, you know. This isn't fun for me. This is what I have to do. Get over yourself.

Unfortunately we live in a day and age when people think they shouldn't have to endure anything that makes them a bit uncomfortable.

I can see three courses:

1. Deal yourself because you gotta do it.
2. Hold them to their own standard...every sound that offends you needs to be a complaint.
3. Deal while feeling superior because you aren't so sensitive.

[bramey.livejournal.com]

I know this isn't the stone age, when women just nursed their babies willy nilly, all out in the open (for shame!)... we're in the 21st century where we know better than to use our bodies the way we evolved to do. Petri dishes and turkey basters and cans of formula are the only appropriate methods, anymore - especially for uppity women like me who insist on working outside the home!

ugh people are so backwards!

And yeah, I'm just going to have to suck it up and deal with whatever the dish out. That's probably what's pissing me off more than anything - the fact that I have no choice.

[miss-manners.livejournal.com]

Believe me, I feel your pain.

In the service we couldn't have pin-ups in the barracks or in ship's berthing in case female barracks or IMA workers had to enter our rooms/berths because they might see our pin-ups and be offended. Basically we had to sanitize our private space in case someone could be offended.

Sometimes I wonder if 1953 was any worse or if what you could do in the open and what you were expected to hide were just different.

That's probably what's pissing me off more than anything - the fact that I have no choice.

You always have a choice, you just don't have any you like...admitted part of the reason for that is some people are just being assholes but that's a whole other issue.

If they don't want it in the cube farm I can't believe there isn't an office that the three of you could use (office, not closet) or something...hell, a break room with a sign would be a possible compromise...I just can't believe they don't want to work with you...if not from decency from legal fear.

[bramey.livejournal.com]

if not from decency from legal fear

Exactly. And I'm not afraid to invoke the law, either.

We're trying to be nice about this first, before turning nasty. I hope it doesn't get nasty.

[microbie.livejournal.com]

I think you have every right to be angry. These people are being immature and selfish about an incredibly personal issue that really shouldn't be a workplace problem, particularly not for you. What if someone was diabetic and needed to check or administer insulin? Seems like reasonable accomodations would be made. This is no different.

If I were in your situation, I'd adopt a really annoying "habit," like bad body odor or frequent flatulence.

[bramey.livejournal.com]

If only that would get to the right people. Unfortunately, it would only bother the people i work with, who are supportive - just unable to help.

:-/

I have to settle for shooting dirty looks when I walk by, or something.

[kendokamel.livejournal.com]

I don't blame you one bit for being angry! (And I don't think you should have to not be angry about it.

[bramey.livejournal.com]

I'm pretty pissed, yesirree

[ashfault76.livejournal.com]

Maybe you should just sit down in the middle of the office one day, in plain view of everyone, and plop you boobs out and start pumping.
"If you can't find a sanitary place for me to do it, I'll just do it right here."

Then one of two things will happen:
1) they'll realize how good they have it when all they have to do is "listen" to it.
2) They'll find a nice quiet private office for "you guys" to use.


And let me guess - these people also feel that Janet's wardrobe malfunction irreperably harmed countless children and ruined countless marriages, right?

morons

[msmichelle.livejournal.com]

Their attitude sucks! I'd be pissed too. I remember you saying your company was really small (like under 10ppl or something)...three employees needing a proper place to pump would therfore be a large percentage of the overall workforce. They suck. Keep fighting the good fight.

[bramey.livejournal.com]

We're in a business incubator, so it's maybe half a dozen itty bitty companies in the building, plus the offices of the building owners (LMCDC) and the incubator (MetaCyte). The other two women are in one company, I'm in another. All tolled, we're a smaller fraction of the workforce housed in the building, but it's still pretty significant. I doubt there are more than 100 or so people working here.

[bramey.livejournal.com]

I'm considering some version of this, actually. There's a little alcove in the lunchroom area. It's off to the side, but not invisible by any stretch. Maybe I'll set up in there. I mean, hey - y'all are preparing lunch for yourselves, I'm just makin' lunch for my kid.

Suck it.

It's like the labs at IU here. You know, you can go days without seeing someone who works across the hall, never mind someone who works around the corner. The first floor cubefarm is where the admin types for all our little companies hang out... so if I whipped 'em out here, I'd just blow our CLIA certifications and offend the people who don't need offending.

But I am definitely considering a lunchroom pump-in, especially if they tell me I have to pump in a fucking handicap toilet stall O_o

[miss-manners.livejournal.com]

Okay, this creates a complete WTF for me.

They have to know said alcove exists.

"Ms. Bramey, how about we set you and the other tow ladies up with a curtain over this alcove. Then you can have some privacy and people this makes uncomfortable will be told if the curtain is drawn they might want to wait 10 minutes before going into the break room."

It addresses your needs and their needs (which are silly but a good manager looks for a way to meet as many as possible), is respectful, and not obnoxious either way.

Bad management. I say you suggest it yourself and say your EEOC lawyer thought it was a good solution ;)

[miss-manners.livejournal.com]

Or for that matter just hand you a 2x4 piece of hull insulation to wrap the thing is to deaden sound and say "pump away in your cube"

Okay...I promise, no more solutions before I thread jack...but damnit...I'm a guy who knows nothing about this and have come up with several workable solutions in the back of my head in an afternoon...WTF is wrong with people at work.

[corto.livejournal.com]

my last clients had a white noise system ... in general use through-out building. Very groovy.

~ stupid bosses... they should treat "you guys" (pumpers) like flipp'en queens and set you up in style. The investment is ... like minimal and the rewards in attitude, reputation, motivation and satisfaction would be huge.

dumb dumb dumb...

[bramey.livejournal.com]

yep yep yep

fuckers

[spiceycreations.livejournal.com]

So sorry you have to deal with this! I'd be upset, too.Hopefully, you can find a solution and they will start being more cooperative.

[bramey.livejournal.com]

Thanks. My fingers are crossed, but I don't dare hold my breath :-/

[travellight.livejournal.com]

What the hell are you pumping with that's causing sound polution? A turbine?

I think you're going to have to pump where it's 1. as sanitary as your own kitchen, 2. electrically convenient, and 3. where OSHA won't have a cow.

Which sounds remarkably to me like in the reception area. Everybody else will just have to get used to it. You're not going to be doing it forever, they're just making it seem like it.

[bramey.livejournal.com]

Kentucky law says a woman can pump or nurse in any public or private location where she and the child are otherwise authorized to be.

Lobby sounds good. We can have a pump-in!

I'm not kidding about doing it in the lunch area.

[liminal-space.livejournal.com]

Call the La Leche bitches and get them on this. They'll cut a bitch before they let anyone make YOU uncomfortable.

Seriously, they might actually have some tips on making this less of a production...although cutting a bitch sounds like all your coworkers and the bldg owner will understand.

You probably have already read this and it's rather vague, but... http://www.lalecheleague.org/Law/Bills20a.html

[bramey.livejournal.com]

I found that page about 15 minutes before I got your post. Great minds, eh?

I will call them if the powers that be don't provide us with a reasonable alternative.

What sucks is that one female Director and one female coworker seem to think the bathroom is a reasonable idea. My immediate supervisor sees it as not ideal, but still considers it a possibility.

I don't get it. I really don't.

What's great about the KY law is that they don't specify any requirements for employers (and states that do have them require ANY employer for a company of ANY size). Anyway. KY law says only that I can pump or nurse in any public OR PRIVATE location where I am otherwise authorized to be.

Ergo, I can pump in any public space in the building - lobbies, lunchroom... the elevator (if I had a battery pack)...

We're doing these people a favor by seeking a more suitable, modest and private location.

It sucks that my MIL and SIL work for our company's lawfirm and one of our clients, respectively, so I can't ask either of them to represent me :(

[scorpbeotch.livejournal.com]

Don't try not to be angry. Be angry. They need to respect you a bit more. Goddam a-holes o_0

[bramey.livejournal.com]

Yep. I'm not trying anymore. I'm nice and pissed.

[curlicue.livejournal.com]

Oops...I was reading your posts in the wrong order. Yeah, I think EWWW about women having to pump in the handicapped stall. But that's what most do. Thank God our bathrooms are so clean they sparkle. Still...Do you want to be around people deficating when you're pumping? I'm thinking no.

[bramey.livejournal.com]

I looked at the LLL webpage with the breastfeeding laws summary. In every state where they explicitly require employers to provide a private space for women to pump, it also says, "(not a toilet stall)".

KY doesn't have that law, but it DOES say that a woman can nurse or pump in any private or public location where she is otherwise authorized to be.

Lobby, anyone?

[curlicue.livejournal.com]

The reason that men are "distracted" by this sound is they are now spending every moment the pump is running THINKING ABOUT BREASTS. Actually thinking about something attached to YOUR breast.

It makes them uncomfortable.

I think it would be useful to ask them what they find so distracting about the sound of a breast pump.

[bramey.livejournal.com]

Yeah well, it's not as though I'm in there with a vibrator. I'm not moaning with pleasure. People can be so stupid.