I think I was threatened at work today

[itsafineday]

@diamondoutofdust i was a home care nurse for a couple years. I pumped in my car for over 4 months. it was cramped and awful, and yes people would walk by on the street sometimes and see me. I also would often eat and chart (on a laptop) while pumping because my day was so hectic. my milk supply was pathetic, i was so stressed.

i switched jobs to an office type job in a hospital. had a nice dedicated lactation room with a comfy reclining chair. it was night and day. did that for about 3 months. no one gave me a hard time about leaving for 20+ mins twice a day. i still took my lunch break and left work on time.

sorry what you're going thru. truly awful.

 

[diamondoutofdust]

@itsafineday Oh god, home care is the 9th circle of hell, I’m so sorry you went through that. I’m glad things are better for you. This is just my second job, but other job is a good union job in a healthcare facility where nobody says anything when it comes to nursing, and I have use of a lovely space in the NICU that’s fully stocked with snacks and water, extra Castile soap, a microwave, it’s a dream.

 

[bbarb]

@diamondoutofdust Try this: Well, bitch, it’s the law. So if you would just cut the shit and find me a clean place with a locking door for use twice per day, that would be great.

 

[angelcynn]

@diamondoutofdust Eff her. Please, escalate this.

 

[205]

@diamondoutofdust Sounds like she has issues with motherhood. Maybe she hates her own mom or maybe she is upset because she wasn’t able to have kids.

Putting you in the janitorial closet is….a statement indeed.

 

[dormiles]

@diamondoutofdust 10000000% illegal!!! This makes me soo mad for you, mama. I would be going scorched earth.

 

[rmora]

@diamondoutofdust Are you a non-exempt FLSA employee? Generally, this is an employee who is eligible for overtime or makes hourly pay. For example, if you are salary and ineligible for overtime pay, then you would be exempt from FLSA laws.

If you are non-exempt, section 7 of the Fair Labor Standards Act protects your rights as a breastfeeding mother, specifically stating:

"An employer shall provide—

1. a reasonable break time for an employee to express breast milk for her nursing child for 1 year after the child’s birth each time such employee has need to express the milk; and
2. a place, other than a bathroom, that is shielded from view and free from intrusion from coworkers and the public, which may be used by an employee to express breast milk.

(2)

An employer shall not be required to compensate an employee receiving reasonable break time under paragraph (1) for any work time spent for such purpose.

(3)

An employer that employs less than 50 employees shall not be subject to the requirements of this subsection, if such requirements would impose an undue hardship by causing the employer significant difficulty or expense when considered in relation to the size, financial resources, nature, or structure of the employer’s business.

(4)

Nothing in this subsection shall preempt a State law that provides greater protections to employees than the protections provided for under this subsection."

SO, if your company employs more than 50 people and your are not exempt from FLSA laws, then you need to confront your boss with the above. It should be noted that for an employer with fewer than 50 employees, they still have to file for an undue hardship before they can deny you your rights to pumping in a space that's not filthy.

I would go above your boss though to your HR manager and present all this. What she is doing is very unethical and if you are FLSA non-exempt, illegal. Women deserve better.

 

[amrat]

@diamondoutofdust I say you whip your boobs out in front of everyone and start pumping

But seriously- I’m sorry this happened and I 100% would not pump in there either.

 

[louisev]

@diamondoutofdust As a supervisor- fuck that lady, what a terrible leader.

Email her and CC HR confirming what she said and give them details on the space provided.

Completely unacceptable.

 

[diamondoutofdust]

@louisev Unfortunately she is interim director and also HR, it’s a tiny boutique holistic health center (think: type of place that has a membership fee) so my only recourse is going to the board, which I plan to do. It’s a hot mess express.

 

[louisev]

@diamondoutofdust Bring that to the board. They won’t trust someone longterm with such poor leadership skills and exposing the company to a huge lawsuit over her own hubris.

Also, I’m normally not one to say this but consult an attorney.

 

[joyandhope]

@diamondoutofdust I hope you document this because this is such an easily winnable law suit. She just made you rich

 

[diamondoutofdust]

@joyandhope Lmao if I can survive the rest of the retaliation. They now have me out here doing manual labour and literal heavy lifting on Monday

 

[kingdomstudies]

@diamondoutofdust Please update us whenever you are able. I am enraged on your behalf and really hope that you at the very least get proper pumping accommodations you are entitled to. Women need to do a better job of supporting other women!

 

[diamondoutofdust]

@kingdomstudies Thank you. I will, I’m honestly freaking out. If anyone reading this has media connections please reach out to me. I’m thankful that it’s only my second job, but I actually really do feel like I need two jobs at the moment. I feel very certain I’m about to be fired over this.

 

[dave567]

@diamondoutofdust WTF are they having you do?

Please keep us updated!!

 

[diamondoutofdust]

@dave567 They volunteered for me to move old patient files out of the basement to be shredded. Nothing even remotely related to my job, but they grasped at straws saying they “wanted a clinician involved to ensure HIPAA compliance”. So beyond absurd

 

[savedbythelight]

@diamondoutofdust If you’re in the US you can sue them.

 

[rummy]

@diamondoutofdust I would contact whoever is over your building, better yet file a complaint with OSHA.

 

[twilightsdream]

@diamondoutofdust Apologizing tons in advance for my language here but.. what a fucking cunt. Some people really need to be punched in the mouth. And no I don't condone violence just a thought that would 100% cross my mind if I were ever in this situation. Please do not let her get away with this. The old hag deserves to lose her job.