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Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

Working from home, breastfeeding, zoom meetings

274 replies

jadelou85 · 30/09/2021 17:19

Since the lockdowns my company has set thing up to allow most of us to work from home so my whole return to work hasn't been the wrench / challenge that I thought it would be. We do have a lot of zoom meetings and to start with everyone including my boss was fine if I dropped out of meetings if I needed to feed. I still had the feeling some people thought I was using it as an excuse so a few weeks ago I just told my boss I needed to feed but I was OK to carry on with our meeting. I managed to be discreet and was pretty chuffed with myself until right at the end I had a mssive slip-up becuase I was paying more attention to the meeting than what I was doing. I probably wouldn't have attempted it again after that but since that day I've felt more and more pressure to 'just get on with it' and take the multi-tasking approach. He hasn't been direct about it but my boss has made more than one comment along these lines even though he was always fine with me dropping our occasionally before. I literally feel I'm being pressured into now and I don't know how to deal with it. I feel lucky to be allowed to work from home but it feels a bit like an ultimatum like stay on meetings if you need to BF or come back to the office. Can someone help me put this in perspective and even better suggest how to deal with it or how to approach the subject without it being any more uncomfortable than it needs to be?

OP posts:
EarringsandLipstick · 05/10/2021 15:42

There's a lot of confusion on this thread around rights to breastfeed at work.

This link, already shared, establishes the legal situation.

https://www.nct.org.uk/life-parent/work-and-childcare/returning-work/breastfeeding-and-returning-work

Ah employee does not have to provide breastfeeding breaks, but does have to ensure, that within the law, breastfeeding mothers are not discriminated against.

As we have established, OP's baby is not likely to be a newborn. As an older child, their feeds can be managed in the context of her breaks, exactly as a breastfeeding employee working in the office would need to do.

This, from Jason is not correct: l. If she is feeding a baby she is absolutely perfectly entitled to feed on demand.

She isn't. She is not entitled to breastfeeding breaks to feed, but cannot be disadvantaged compared to another employee.

It seems OP's employer is flexible & open to her arrangement - great - but OP for some baffling reason is making a fuss about the very rare occasion when she needs to b/f in a meeting, where cameras are required to be on. There is an option to provide an alternative to her DC at this time, but OP isn't prepared to consider it.

jadelou85 · 05/10/2021 21:46

@EarringsandLipstick

There's a lot of confusion on this thread around rights to breastfeed at work.

This link, already shared, establishes the legal situation.

[[https://www.nct.org.uk/life-parent/work-and-childcare/returning-work/breastfeeding-and-returning-work]]

Ah employee does not have to provide breastfeeding breaks, but does have to ensure, that within the law, breastfeeding mothers are not discriminated against.

As we have established, OP's baby is not likely to be a newborn. As an older child, their feeds can be managed in the context of her breaks, exactly as a breastfeeding employee working in the office would need to do.

This, from Jason is not correct: l. If she is feeding a baby she is absolutely perfectly entitled to feed on demand.

She isn't. She is not entitled to breastfeeding breaks to feed, but cannot be disadvantaged compared to another employee.

It seems OP's employer is flexible & open to her arrangement - great - but OP for some baffling reason is making a fuss about the very rare occasion when she needs to b/f in a meeting, where cameras are required to be on. There is an option to provide an alternative to her DC at this time, but OP isn't prepared to consider it.

You're right it is very rare. So what is the alternative you're suggesting and why is it less fuss than being allowed to turn a camera off?
OP posts:
MyothercarisaCozyCoupe · 05/10/2021 21:54

How old is your child, Op?

EarringsandLipstick · 05/10/2021 22:08

So what is the alternative you're suggesting

I've already suggested it. Feed your baby toddler, teenager, who knows at an alternative time, ie your breaks, or provide expressed feeds if really necessary it's not.

Like you would if you were in the office. 🤷🏻‍♀️

Your already understanding employer would like cameras on for meetings. So that's the why. Feed your child when you are not at meetings.

EarringsandLipstick · 05/10/2021 22:09

@MyothercarisaCozyCoupe

How old is your child, Op?
😂😂😂😂

Good luck with that one Cozy!

Bluntness100 · 05/10/2021 22:12

@MyothercarisaCozyCoupe

How old is your child, Op?
At Least seventeen the way the op is avoiding the question, 😃

Cmon op tell us,

JasonMomoasgirlfriend · 05/10/2021 22:13

Yes I guess the kid is older then. In which case there is absolutely no need for it.

MyothercarisaCozyCoupe · 05/10/2021 22:30

@EarringsandLipstick

I think I've asked 3 times now. As the Op was asking other people questions, I thought she might finally answer ours. Smile

WeepySheepy · 05/10/2021 22:33

If the child is old enough they should just wait until after the meeting. How old is the child?

WeepySheepy · 05/10/2021 22:34

Can they have squash or something instead while they wait? Or are they too young?

jadelou85 · 05/10/2021 22:35

@WeepySheepy

If the child is old enough they should just wait until after the meeting. How old is the child?
.....and if not old enough?
OP posts:
JasonMomoasgirlfriend · 05/10/2021 22:35

Why won't you say the age?

EarringsandLipstick · 05/10/2021 22:43

[quote MyothercarisaCozyCoupe]@EarringsandLipstick

I think I've asked 3 times now. As the Op was asking other people questions, I thought she might finally answer ours. Smile[/quote]
😀

I'm not sure what OP is up to. Selectively answering questions & being snotty & evasive.

I mean, surely don't post if you don't want to give crucial info like the age of the baby!

jadelou85 · 05/10/2021 22:47

@Bluntness100

Op are you feeding a toddler or older child? If so then I think it’s better to wean and feed at set times rather than on demand, and you need to start managing that.

If you exposed yourself on camera to your colleagues I think that’s not ok and you need to resolve this by managing the feeding.

Oh thanks for that ! If I hadn't 'exposed myself' I wouldn't be 'making a fuss' as another helpful soul put it.
OP posts:
EarringsandLipstick · 05/10/2021 22:47

and if not old enough?

If the baby is under 6 months (the age where this point is relevant), I'm surprised you're back at work in what appears to be an office / employee situation.

Surely you'd still be on mat leave. I know that's not always the case. With my 2nd baby for example, I'd been made redundant when I was pregnant. I was working p/t in a self employed capacity so needed to go back ASAP, and returned when my baby was 7 weeks. I managed as it was p/t & the time on-site was limited. I managed just about to express enough milk for those times.

EarringsandLipstick · 05/10/2021 22:48

If I hadn't 'exposed myself' I wouldn't be 'making a fuss' as another helpful soul put it

What does this even mean?

jadelou85 · 05/10/2021 22:48

@Bluntness100

Op are you feeding a toddler or older child? If so then I think it’s better to wean and feed at set times rather than on demand, and you need to start managing that.

If you exposed yourself on camera to your colleagues I think that’s not ok and you need to resolve this by managing the feeding.

What if I'm not feeding a toddler or an older child?
OP posts:
MyothercarisaCozyCoupe · 05/10/2021 22:51

Well what are you feeding?

EarringsandLipstick · 05/10/2021 22:51

What if I'm not feeding a toddler or an older child?

I'm a glutton for punishment...

So just say if you are or not? What age is your baby?

If it's a newborn, clearly it's going to be challenging - but so is being back at work & statutory maternity leave exists for a reason

If the baby is more than 6 months, see my previous posts.

EarringsandLipstick · 05/10/2021 22:52

@MyothercarisaCozyCoupe

Well what are you feeding?
Again ... 😂😂😂😂
MyothercarisaCozyCoupe · 05/10/2021 22:52

Is this a game? It feels like it could be.

JasonMomoasgirlfriend · 05/10/2021 23:05

Why are people so silly? They ask for advice and we want to help but the information is relevant.
I see the op on some other thread in 2020 about topless sunbathing and seemed to think a Muslim country should just accept topless sunbathing...

I guess she has the mentality of everything should revolve around her/her way.

Bizarre.

Feelingoktoday · 05/10/2021 23:06

I work in local government. During Covid, employees worked at home with babies and children being cared for at home. It was acceptable and management turned a blind eye to it. We were just grateful that the work got done.

Now is very different. We have told all staff that primary school and under must be in childcare if the employee is working from home. Another adult can look after the child in the house, but they must be in a different room. I’ve had staff ask me if they could work from home during the school holidays to look after their kids. No sorry you can’t work and look after kids. They reply but what do I do with my kids.!! Well you do what parents have been doing for the last 50 years, you take leave, you use childcare.

I think OP you are taking the mickey.

JasonMomoasgirlfriend · 05/10/2021 23:08

I think OP you are taking the mickey
I think she's taking the full blown piss!

jadelou85 · 06/10/2021 00:12

@Feelingoktoday

I work in local government. During Covid, employees worked at home with babies and children being cared for at home. It was acceptable and management turned a blind eye to it. We were just grateful that the work got done.

Now is very different. We have told all staff that primary school and under must be in childcare if the employee is working from home. Another adult can look after the child in the house, but they must be in a different room. I’ve had staff ask me if they could work from home during the school holidays to look after their kids. No sorry you can’t work and look after kids. They reply but what do I do with my kids.!! Well you do what parents have been doing for the last 50 years, you take leave, you use childcare.

I think OP you are taking the mickey.

I work in local government. During Covid, employees worked at home with babies and children being cared for at home. It was acceptable and management turned a blind eye to it. We were just grateful that the work got done.

Now is very different. We have told all staff that primary school and under must be in childcare if the employee is working from home. Another adult can look after the child in the house, but they must be in a different room. I’ve had staff ask me if they could work from home during the school holidays to look after their kids. No sorry you can’t work and look after kids. They reply but what do I do with my kids.!! Well you do what parents have been doing for the last 50 years, you take leave, you use childcare.

  • None of the above has anthing to do with me

I think OP you are taking the mickey.

  • Why?
OP posts:
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