Breastfeeding rights at work - please clarify for me please! I start in 3 days!

[carrie3003]

Returning to work part time after 10.5 months mat leave. Breastfeeding.

It is a new job (bank hours so 0 hour contract I can work when I like). Not worked there before.

First shift and induction is on Friday morning for 6 hours - a 20 minute break.

I have emailed and said my baby will be brought to me around 10/11am for a feed. (I read online that you need to tell your employer in writing you’re breastfeeding so that’s why I emailed)

They have just emailed back:

“That’s fine, we can look to work your break around that time if that’s ok with you”

I don’t have to use my break for this do I?
Surely as a breastfeeding mother I am entitled to my full break for me and a 10 minute breastfeeding “break” for my baby?
They can’t make me use my break to breastfeed can they?

What do I reply? It’s really shocked me as I thought she would just reply saying “yeah that’s fine”

Please tell me I’m not mad. AIBU? I need clarification on my rights and what to say back.

Not keen on returning to work as it is and now this has pushed me even more to just not go!

Thank you in advance lovely ladies xx

What everyone is missing is this is an induction so others on the course. If op misses 30 minutes of the course everyone is hanging around waiting for her and I doubt they’ll be up for unpaid extra break so op can feed/pump. In other scenarios I don’t think you’d have to use the break but surely no one is so entitled they would think the company and other employees have to work around them? It’s great companies are more flexible but give and take so the office needs are also not hugely impacted.

Right - hope you're okay, OP. I breastfeed and going back to work at 11.5 months, also dreading it. I've never heard of this arrangement though, I thought they were supposed to give you a private space to pump.

Maybe it's me, I work in a school and know realistically there's no way they'll give me the space or time to pump at work on top of my timetable, bringing my baby to me to feed would be out of the question.

The kid's 10 months old. Give it a pouch of Ella's and a bit of Aptamil. Will be reeet.

We don't actually know it's a group induction. It may be just for her.

Your work are acting within the law. I have to be honest I've never known anyone have a baby brought to work to be breastfed I'm sure it happens but with most babies being in childcare and work not being on the doorstep it's not really the norm.
I would have found it difficult to breastfeed within such a tight time frame what if your baby is unsettled or doesn't need fed at your break time. Expressing would surely be less stressful for you if possible

I live in Ireland but thought it might have been similar in the UK. Here, you are entitled to up to 1 hour paid breastfeeding break based on an 8 hour working day (to either BF onsite or pump). This is allowed up until the child turns 2. Part time workers can also avail of these breaks, the time is just calculated based on the hours worked. Aware this is kind of useless information but just sharing to show its not unheard of.

A bit selfish OP, expecting your employers and work colleagues to put up with this. Just pump.

The reply to your email sounds positive and agreeable, I can’t see anything for you to get so het up about. What comes across from your posts is that you don’t want to go back to work. In which case you need to tell them and withdraw rather than being resentful and combative.

Sad state of affairs where we put the interest of businesses and grown adults above those of little babies. Not everyone can pump btw.

Surely you express or pump and whoever is doing your childcare does the feed? I may be wrong, but walking into a brand new job and immediately demanding “my baby will be brought to me at 11am” sounds crazy entitled to me.

This is the case in many other civilised countries. Only in the UK we are obsessed with separating the baby from their parents and to get the parents working and paying taxes asap without any consideration given to the wellbeing of the babies.

So every employer needs to let all children of their employees in to the work place and be expected to pay mothers to look after their own children rather than work. Yes, sad state of affairs that

@carrie3003 “That’s fine, we can look to work your break around that time if that’s ok with you”

Are you sure they don't mean allowing you to breastfeed, and then taking your break immediately after that?

You know, so you're not leaving to breast feed, coming back, and then leaving again for the break. I'm wondering if it's easier and more efficient to simply do the breast feed, and then have the break after that.

None of which alters the fact that in the UK there is no legal entitlement to paid breastfeeding breaks.

And from NCT website:

What are my legal rights around breastfeeding at work?

Before returning to work, it helps to let your employer know in writing that you are breastfeeding. They can then complete a risk assessment and consider whether there are any specific risks to you for as long as you are breastfeeding.

There are few direct risks to breastfeeding but you should seek advice if you work with dangerous substances, such as organic mercury .

Employers are legally required to provide a space for mums who are breastfeeding to lie down and rest if they need to.

There is no legal right, however, for your employer to provide breastfeeding breaks at work. But they must meet their obligations to employees who breastfeed under health and safety law, flexible working law and discrimination law. This means your employer should make sure you don't feel unfairly treated because you are breastfeeding.

Can I express milk for my baby at work?

You should be able to express milk at your workplace if you wish. You can request that your employer provides you with a suitable private space where you can do this.

Guidelines recommend that you have access to a private, clean and comfortable room with a lockable door - not a toilet - in which to express. However, there is no legal obligation for your employer to provide this space.

It's also recommended that you have use of a fridge to store your breast milk.

Here you go.
https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/feminism/5419739-bringing-a-newborn-to-university-lectures

Do you actually need to feed during the day? My baby wouldn’t take a bottle at all and I went back to work at 6 months and he went to nursery. I fed him before I went to work and he was there about 6 hours. I fed him as soon as I picked him up and then later on before bed. My supply adjusted so I wasn’t overloaded during the day and the nursery managed with him having milk out into his foods so he was nourished in those 6 hours. He was a chunky baby so didn’t suffering with this routine.

OP I think people are being a bit unfair on this. I don't think you are particularly unreasonable - lots of countries do give paid breastfeeding breaks by law. Just because the UK mgiht be behind on this benefit doesn't make your query completely outlandish or outrageously entitled.

For example in Ireland, by law, you are legally entitled to paid breastfeeding breaks at work up until your child’s 2nd birthday.
You can take up to 1 hour (with pay) for an 8 hour working day.

Oh wow I didnt see this thread.

It actually blows my mind that was a genuine question.

How the hell can you expect to be able to concentrate on uni with a baby. Or expect anyone else to. I admire the OP for wanting to better herself and continue her studies but what a crazy thing to expect is ok.

Damn I should have asked my work if I could bring my screaming baby back to work with me when I went back when he was 6 months. Would have saved £££ in nursery fees...

When I returned to work I was still breastfeeding and I did 13 hours shifts as a nurse.

I was allowed to take 3 additional breaks a day to pump (20 minutes each time), as well as taking my scheduled breakfast and lunch breaks.

I worked at a hospital who were working towards their Baby Friendly Standards award though so it would be pretty hypocritical of them to be shouting out about how much they supported breastfeeding and wanted to promote the importance of enabling mothers to breastfeed, but then not let their own staff express when needed.

From reading some of these stories I think I was very lucky.

Other countries manage it just fine.

And I think you- and several other posters on here- are displaying the most vile and antiquated attitudes to OP. OP has a legal right to have her breastfeeding accommodated whether you like it or not, whether you did it or not and whether you've heard of it or not. I'm shocked by some of the ignorance and unpleasantness on this thread. Do better.
We have some of the lowest breastfeeding rates in the world, despite the fact WHO recommends breastfeeding until 2 years (in addition to solid food from 6 months).

OP you need that risk assessment done before you return to work as that is what legally will drive and force the accommodations you need. Contact your HR to remind them you need one doing before your return to work.
Make clear what your feeding/pumping needs are to avoid risk of mastitis and ensure they are put down. Health and Safety Executive website also has information about employers legal duties to breastfeeding employees.

This is health and safety executive website. The OP and all employees have legal protections under the Health and safety at work act 1974
That's why the breastfeeding risk assessment is legally required and of paramount importance

www.hse.gov.uk/mothers/employer/rest-breastfeeding-at-work.htm

OP has a legal right to have her breastfeeding accommodated whether you like it or not

That’s as maybe but as far as I know she doesn’t have the legal right to waltz into a new job and immediately start demanding that “my baby will be brought to me at 10/11 am”.

The employer has actually said “that’s fine” and accommodated that crazy request, yet she’s still
moaning it’s not good enough!

I’m mean, USA maternity leave is 3 months whereas in the uk we are allowed a year. I hope op can make it work her expectations may not work for the company.