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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

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

82 replies

BumpPower · 05/09/2016 18:22

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?

OP posts:

XSL2001 · 05/09/2016 19:21

I'm sorry you are feeling stressed about your works attitude towards you and your requirements. It is very doable - I returned to work after twelve weeks and I expressed for the first year. I'm also a teacher - the difference is I had 45 minutes lunch break to do as I please. I was not required to supervise pupils during this time. I would follow up with your union rep. If you are not part of a union join now.

Original poster

BumpPower · 05/09/2016 19:29

Sorry ladies, posted then got caught up in bathtime!
School is an Academy I have to do duties essential lunch is just 30mins long.
Although I could pump in 30mins it is not 30 mins to express. It is 30mins from the second I leave the kids to the second ai'm standing back in front of them so has to include going to loo, eating even getting the pump out and attached (don't even think about finding a private space I'm settling for one without children in)
The Union said try an informal meeting and signposted me to all the stuff that basically says it is best practise but I don't have a legal right to a break!
I can't go 0800-1530 without expressing and I can't express in one 15min break (which I loose one day a week) and one 30min break and still eat, wee and stay sane!!!
Can't help but feel waiting until today was v deliberate, when is deadline for handing in your notice....?

OP posts:

Peonie7654 · 05/09/2016 19:33

Can you pump in the staff room? I'm guessing they will make allowances for you after you start pumping in there!

Seriously what are your contacted hours. I'd be cutting everything back to the minimum if they were so shitty towards me.

DomesticAnarchist · 05/09/2016 19:39

I am a teacher and have a 5 month old. I express at break (20 mins) and lunch (40 mins) and only just have enough time to get to and from my little pumping room (in another building) and eat and/or wee.

They have to give you time and a place by law. But the time thing is difficult to negotiate.

I don't know about anyone else but I can't eat and pump at the same time (manual pump - no electric point in my little broomcupboard room).

RunningLulu, not all teachers get paid for lunch (I.e. It's not some of the 1,200-whatever hours). But they can specify that that break is when you can pump.

I can't work out if I'm telling the OP to buck-up or if I'm realising I'm being hard-done-by too!

Trifleorbust · 05/09/2016 19:41

Here's what I would do if I could... Walk in at the last possible minute in the morning, leave as soon as possible in the afternoon. Don't do a single thing you don't have to do under the terms of your contract. Set up a meeting with your LM to explain how much you love your work and how you would really like to stay at the school, but you are just not sure, given their decision, how practical this is for you. And keep saying that right up to half term so they don't know whether they are going to have to recruit. Then ask them to reconsider, and I reckon they might.

Original poster

BumpPower · 05/09/2016 19:55

trifle its a nice idea but the only ones who will suffer from me working to rule are the kids! Teacher contracts always include the lovely "any task deemed reasonable by the head" clause so working out exactly what you don't have to do is near impossible!

OP posts:

Original poster

BumpPower · 05/09/2016 19:57

peonie I pumped in the staff work room before the hols and in a meeting today! Admittedly I'm descreet and have made an expressing bra it fit in and then I wear a T shirt over the top so you can't see any boob

OP posts:

MothersGrim · 05/09/2016 20:03

Any chance you could do it not discretely? I'd love it if you scheduled a meetkng with your manager and whacked them out, make sure pump is on extra noisy mode.

Arseholes. Go back to your union. Call ACAS. Email your local La Leche lead they might have someone to help.support you with your rights. Or at least possibly someone in your union.

RubbleBubble00 · 05/09/2016 20:10

if you can find a place that private I used to used a double electric pump that would let me express in 10 mins - might help with time situation. I used to eat lunch while pumping, with pumps held on by a band thing

RhiWrites · 05/09/2016 20:18

That's outrageous. Escalate all the way to the board of governors. It's a medical need.

Doublemint · 05/09/2016 20:23

Pump indiscreetly during your break I front of colleagues.
Loudly explain that your request to have extra allowances to relieve your own physical discomfort/ nourish your baby/ prevent mastitis (explain exactly what mastitis is in detail whilst they're eating lunch.

Don't wear breast pads.

Trifleorbust · 05/09/2016 20:35

Is that the exact wording? Not in my contract, I don't think. In the state maintained sector, we can be asked to perform reasonable tasks up to the limit of directed time. Yes, we inevitably do more than this as part of reasonable extra time to fulfil professional duties, but we don't have to be present on school premises, nor can the Head direct us to undertake specific tasks at specific times. Just say no, thank you, you are going home!

clam · 05/09/2016 20:41

Is your school an academy?

BoffinMum · 05/09/2016 20:54

Do you know what? I would just resign if I was treated like that, and look for another job, in the meantime I would have my norks out all the time.

I would also see a solicitor. It sounds highly discriminatory to me.

Rachie1986 · 05/09/2016 20:57

No advice but really hope you get it sorted x

Doublemint · 05/09/2016 21:06

What boffinmum said ^

Iggi999 · 05/09/2016 21:13

Whether it's a legal requirement or not doesn't mean that schools have to provide only the bare minimum. Follow union advice (quickly) and escalate this as required. Way to wipe out any good will you have towards employers! All for what would probably last a few months (the expressing, not the bf) why do they think it's worth it to be so stupid.

Original poster

BumpPower · 05/09/2016 21:15

yes clam how did you guess?
thing is they have been a good school up until now. I was on crutches during pregnancy and they were lovely. I just don't think they realise how serious it is to not allow me express. They also know i am coming back so early because my partner lost his job so they know I'm not going to just leave......

OP posts:

Moomichi · 05/09/2016 21:25

I'm quite lucky in that my work has been very accommodating. Technically I could take my half hour lunch and another break on top to express. What I do, however, is take about half an hour, attach the double pump and bolt my dinner down at the same time.
Definitely check out the legislation. Also suggest that if you don't get the appropriate breaks uou may end up being off sick. Mastitis can show with flu like symptoms.
Hope you find a way forward X

ilovesooty · 05/09/2016 21:41

The trouble is that academies don't have to recognise unions either, and many don't have a board of governors.

TheSkyAtNight · 06/09/2016 00:17

Hi, ime unions are not good with 'female' issues. You might try ACAS. Do you have someone I/c health & safety? Ask for a risk assessment.

I'm going back & hope to pump tomorrow but don't know where yet :( or if I'll have lunch duty. Stay on touch & let us know what happens. I do think a risk assessment is the best hope though.

attheendoftheday · 06/09/2016 01:30

Joining everyone else in saying you have a legal right to time to express milk.

Speak to your union ASAP.

OlennasWimple · 06/09/2016 02:20

LOL at BoffinMum's suggestion:

I bet they haven't really thought through the potential for mastitis - sounds like you need to explain it to them in detail, why you aren't being difficult and why you made the original request.

What's your aim in terms of keeping BF? Are you hoping to pump enough that he can remain EBF, or just to keep up your supply? If the latter, you might find that you don't need to pump if you only feed in the morning and evening. If you are hoping for him to EBF, I'd have thought that you need to pump at least three times during your time at school, to get the required volume?

Haggisfish · 06/09/2016 02:44

Or just go off sick with mastitis for six or eight weeks. Wankers that they are. I know we feel bad for the kids but you need to put your kids first.

fryingpan · 06/09/2016 05:06

I know it's not the ideal solution, but could your colleagues cover your lunch duty without having to clear it with your boss?

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