To have a big cry about work now saying they won't give me time to express?

[BumpPower]

Fuck! Any breastfeeding teachers have any ideas?
Started back at work end of July. Expressing for my 5month old. Explained to work/line manager what I'd do. I'm a teacher and asked to be excused lunch duties. Was told it wasn't a problem and got on fine but mat cover was still there so no really impact on school. kids back on Wednesday and today been told "my request has been turned down!!". I'm a classteacher with my kids all day so I asked that I be excused duties during lunch (half staff supervise kids eating while others have their lunch then after 30mins we swap over). This would give me 15mins at 1100 and then an hour at 1200 everyday to express plus I could express before 0800 and after 1530. This was the only solution I could think of that didn't impact on the pupils learning (I.e. Have me leave them). I am effectively only asking for 30mins extention on my break.
Do I have U expectations?

[startwig1982]

Union rules are that you do not have to do lunch duties. And they have to provide somewhere for you to express. I would contact your Union person.

Certainly at my school you get paid extra for lunch duty and it is optional.

[greathat]

I think this might not be legal. Are you in union? Look up.legalities and give them a ring?

[greathat]

Yes the lunch duty thing isn't allowed are you at a private school?

[SouthWindsWesterly]

How old is your baby? If under 12months, you've got more protection under law

www.maternityaction.org.uk/advice-2/mums-dads-scenarios/6-breastfeeding-rights/continuing-to-breastfeed-when-you-return-to-work/

[Wonkydonkey44]

Pretty sure there are laws governing this have u googled ? X

[WombOfOnesOwn]

While I can understand being upset, I'm also confused about why you need an hour to express at 1200? Could you completely not manage with just half an hour? I know it might mean shoving down lunch in about 2 minutes flat, but I wouldn't imagine you're planning to continue this level of expressing once your baby is taking significant amounts of solids, so it's just a few months of inconvenience. Not ideal, I know.

[FlipperyFrippery]

Sounds reasonable to me. If you go from feeding regularly to suddenly having big gaps you may end up with mastitis, I know I did. Do your school have a policy that may help your case? Are you a union member? They're likely to know what your rights are in this situation.

[Mouikey]

Are you in the UK? I didnt think they could legally decline a request to breastfeed at work, indeed they need to provide somewhere for you to do it... whether this covers expressing i'm not sure... I havent read it, but take a look at this... www.nct.org.uk/parenting/returning-work-and-breastfeeding

[Cheby]

Speak to your Union. I don't think this is legal.

[Mybeardeddragonjustdied2016]

I worked in a shop. Dh brought ds in and I fed him in the staff room. He said he legally had to allow me to bf or pump.

[missm0use]

It's illegal to refuse to allow a mother to express milk and by all rights they should be providing you with an appropriate space to express as well. If you get in touch with your HV they will be able to give you more info on what your legal rights are or you can google it.

[MoreCoffeeNow]

Lunchtime supervision is voluntary. They can't make you do it.

[ilovesooty]

Is your school an academy?

[ohidoliketobe]

Tricky one
www.maternityaction.org.uk/advice-2/mums-dads-scenarios/6-breastfeeding-rights/continuing-to-breastfeed-when-you-return-to-work/#your-legal-rights
In the UK employees are not legally entitled to additional breaks purely for breastfeeding / expressing. The legalities the employwr has to follow are around providing a suitable place for you to do so, storage facilities and dangerous materials/ chemicals.

[QueenofLouisiana]

www.teachers.org.uk/files/Workload-A5-7037.pdf

Look at pg17 of the document. You cannot be required to cover lunch- unless you are deputy/ assistant head.

[Cherrysoup]

Tell them to fro with their lunchtime duties, which are strictly voluntary. People may be 'expected' to do them, but if you agree, you should be paid. Tell them you've spoken to your Union who has said it is illegal to prevent you and illegal to force you to do lunch duties.

[RunningLulu]

Do you get paid for lunch? I think teachers do but not sure - if not then its your time and school can't force you to work. If you are then it's their time, and they don't have to help if it isn't practicable.

[AThousandTears]

I am a teacher too. I've returned to work today and I'm expressing twice a day to feed my 6 month old DS.

I'm taking extra time out to do it and have been given the heads office (has a lock) to express in private.

To be honest it never crossed my mind to ask. This is how I'm feeding my baby and if I don't express then I'll experience problems, in both production and my health.

They are being massively unreasonable. Contact your Union!

[Trifleorbust]

Just tell them you won't be doing it and you will be expressing. You are entitled to your full lunch break just like any worker.

[sandragreen]

Definitely speak to your union rep, they will be able to resolve this for you fairly swiftly I should think.

[Smartiepants79]

Presumably you're not intending to express forever?
They are being short-sighted idiots.
I do not understand the rational behind this kind of decision. Schools run on the good will of their staff. This does not make a hard working and loyal staff.
Contact the union.

[clam]

You can't be compelled to do a lunchtime duty. A year or two back, we all received an email asking if there was anyone who would be willing to take any on and there was a resounding silence. Not one person agreed.
a) you need a break
b) you need time to prepare for the afternoon session
c) in your case, you need to express

[TheOnlyLivingBoyInNewCross]

What does your union say?

[LuluJakey1]

If you work in an Academy you can be made to do lunchduty.
Pretty sure they have to provide you with somewhere to express.

[BoffinMum]

They can't really just turn down a request to give you the time to express properly and eat lunch, as it could be argued it is discriminatory, on the grounds that men would never find themselves in this situation. I think 15 minutes is not very long to express actually, but you don't need an hour at lunchtime, so you need to try explaining this isn't an optional thing and that there is basic biology underpinning the need to do it regularly, and try another timetable. If that doesn't work as a plan then its time for the union to have a little word, I think.