Does anyone express at work? How does your employer support this?

[ja9]

Please!

I expressed at work for 6 months. My HR department arranged for me to have my own key to our sick room, so I could lock myself in for privacy. I was also told that I wasn't expected to make the time up (which was 30 - 40 mins per day). We have several fridges in the building, so I just made sure that my pump and the milk was in a discreet bag and used one of them.

Also, when DD was 8.5 months old I should have attended a conference abroad over 6 days, but when I said I was still breastfeeding, I was given the option not to go.

thanks mandymac. that is helpful.

anyone else?

Hi there by law your employer has to provide adequate facilities for you to express and a apprpriate place for you to store your milk. Again by law I don't think they can make you make up the time(but you need to check this one)

I have been lucky I work for a fairly small company and due to expansion they were going to have to get rid of the staff room to use as an office but when they found out I was pregnant they made sure they found a room big enough to put a sofa in so that I could sit and express.

I used the first aid room as well. The door didn't lock but I had a notice to hang on the door asking people to knock before coming in. Your employer should provide a place for you to express (NOT the loo) and breaks to do so. I had one of those zip-up cases for my pump and bottles which I stuck in the fridge.

I wouldn't say mine exactly supported it, but I got a key to the first aid room, and told them I'd be using it 3 times a day to express. I used the canteen fridge to store the milk.
Apart from the first aid room key, I didn't ask for any other accomodation, and travelled for work from when DS was 6 months. I expressed until he was 14 months and had dropped all his daytime feeds, and am still feeding (and pumping when away)at 18 months.

I expressed at work but as I have my own office and we share a small fridge I never needed to even inform anyone, just got on with it. (My colleagues aren't the sort of people to put vodka in your breastmilk for a joke.)
I used to leave the breastpump lying on the draining board to air dry and no-one ever even mentioned it!

this is very helpful. thank you.

i know what employers have to offer by law... BUT ..

although i am bf and am back at work, i am not asking about this for myself. I am overseeing a health in the workplace initiative and part of this involves ensuring staff can continue to bf when they return to work.

The problem is my workplace is a school. The staff are mostly teachers so will probably need cover for their classes when they need to express.

also, our building is really inadequate. we have a staff room and a staff base. all other rooms are teaching rooms (aside from HT and DHT office). the staff base is already under huge demand - SMT often hold meetings there with parents and support staff etc.

in addition, the staff fridge is very small and people have been grumbling for a long time about there not being enough space for people's lunch.

in short, i don't know how to go about making my workplace suitable for supporting bfeeders.

It's fifteen years since I did this, but my employer was very supportive. I could take time off twice a day to express, and would use the first aid room (which had an easy chair). They bought me a little fridge especially for storing my milk.

Hi

Is there a nurses room or sick room that could be used for this?
What about a mini fridge exclusively for use of expressing mum - don't think they are that expensive.
Do teachers usually do playground cover for breaktimes? if so, couldn't breastfeeding mum be excused this and use the time to express? Mid am and mid pm are normally pretty good times.

I went back to teaching and no facilities were made available. I just got on with it- locked myself in my classroom, expressed, took cool bag in with me to store milk and did it in my lunch hour.

I didn't ask for anything but my head of dept was aware of what I was doing and didn't offer anything either

some food for thought here - thanks.

our sick room is used for changing children with special needs...

mini fridge opens up more possibilities tho'. thanks.

still interested to know what other empolyers do to support bfing mothers...

I am delighted to hear that so many of you had support from employers when expressing at work. Whan I asked my manager about his he first asked whether I could do it in the loo (!) and then told me that perhaps my male colleague with whom I shared an office could give me a hand. Should have really taken it further at the time. Still makes me thinking about it.

JustJaamy!. What a dickhead your boss was!

You could always ask the head to vacate their office for a bit?! Might win the argument by pointing out a. its the law to provide somewhere and b. women who continue BF are likely to be happier at work and less likely to leave

My employer very good but a big organisation so easier to cater (they have an occupational health dept with rooms women can use if necessary)

Yes Chipmonkey! The place I worked is very big - they just don't look after their staff, whether legally obliged to do so or not!

Ja9 - surely there is a classroom that could be used during break/lunch time when the children are in the playground? Then get a mini fridge in the staff room or an office where the milk would be safe.

Hi, I'm very lucky at work - OH have designated a "rest room" for use of bf mums next to the first aid rooms with comfy chair, fridge / freezer and lockers - the latter is great cos it means I don't have to carry the electric bit of the pump in every day, and I don't have to be as obvious about gathering all my kit up as I go to express (I work in an office with just blokes and while I know I shouldn't be I would find it a bit embarassing - it's easier if I can just slip out...)