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melbalalala
Little Lady
Member since 5/07 5014 total posts
Name:
Melissa
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Federal employee preggos... question about pumping at work?
Before I attempt to research this on the beast that is the OPM website, I figured I would throw this out here...
Are there any rules about the time you use to pump at work? Do you have to take leave to do it?
We have a nurses office that we can pump in, but if I'm gone for 15-30 minutes at a time that will really add up.
My boss is a stickler for the rules, so if there is something in writing out there that says we need to use leave, she'll make me use leave.
I thought the (normally useless) unions for Fed employees might have fought for something in this arena.
Anyone know?
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Posted 4/7/10 11:51 AM  |
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GioiaMia
Let's Go Rangers!
Member since 1/07 14818 total posts
Name:
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Re: Federal employee preggos... question about pumping at work?
I have been told that if I go over 15 minute breaks OR 30 minute lunches that I have to "flex out" and adjust my leaving time by 5 minute intervals.
However, I just can't see my current manager really being a stickler for this. Unfortunately, he is retiring soon so we shall see!
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| Posted 4/7/10 11:54 AM |
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melbalalala
Little Lady
Member since 5/07 5014 total posts
Name:
Melissa
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Re: Federal employee preggos... question about pumping at work?
Posted by Tilde
However, I just can't see my current manager really being a stickler for this. Unfortunately, he is retiring soon so we shall see!
See THAT'S what I need.. an old, retired man boss that would be squeemish about the idea of a pumping conversation, let alone have the ba!ls to make me follow rules.
Instead I have an older female boss who worked FT with two kids way back when when there were no flexible rules about maternity leave, working parents, or anything to help working moms.
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| Posted 4/7/10 11:59 AM |
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GioiaMia
Let's Go Rangers!
Member since 1/07 14818 total posts
Name:
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Re: Federal employee preggos... question about pumping at work?
Posted by melbalalala
Posted by Tilde
However, I just can't see my current manager really being a stickler for this. Unfortunately, he is retiring soon so we shall see!
See THAT'S what I need.. an old, retired man boss that would be squeemish about the idea of a pumping conversation, let alone have the ba!ls to make me follow rules.
Instead I have an older female boss who worked FT with two kids way back when when there were no flexible rules about maternity leave, working parents, or anything to help working moms.
OMG! That is exactly what I am getting! My new assistant manager is JUST like that. She asked me how long I planned on staying out and I said three months. She said "Oh thank God you arent one of these woman who expect to take six months off" 
And, she has already joked twice that she hasnt approved my maternity leave
AND she keeps saying how great it is I am working until my due date, that no one does that anymore - um, I am only 24 weeks - I have NO IDEA if I can make it!
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| Posted 4/7/10 12:02 PM |
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Ophelia
she's baaccckkkk ;)
Member since 5/06 23378 total posts
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remember, when Gulliver traveled....
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Re: Federal employee preggos... question about pumping at work?
hold on...lemme find the reg....it was INCLUDED in the HCRB 
but in my case, I work for DOJ and I pump 3 times a day and do not have to take leave to do so.
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| Posted 4/7/10 12:03 PM |
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NYimport
LIF Infant
Member since 6/08 290 total posts
Name:
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Re: Federal employee preggos... question about pumping at work?
I couldn't tell you what the policy is at your job. I can tell you that, as part of the health care reform bill, the Fair Labor Standards Act was amended to require certain employers to give reasonable breaks and private space for pumping. There is no requirement that the breaks have to be paid. This has been a NY law for a few years, so not much has changed. It's unclear at this point how long a "reasonable" break lasts.
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| Posted 4/7/10 12:12 PM |
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Cpt2007
A new love!
Member since 1/08 5946 total posts
Name:
Liz
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Re: Federal employee preggos... question about pumping at work?
I couldn't find anything on OPM's site other than this.
I'm now searching State's handbooks to see if there is anything in there.
I'm pretty lucky though...I have my own office with a door, and we only have one man in our entire suite. I highly doubt anyone is going to dock me for closing the door a few times a day. At least I would hope not!
I'll keep looking though and post what I find.
GL at your agencies!
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| Posted 4/7/10 12:21 PM |
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Ophelia
she's baaccckkkk ;)
Member since 5/06 23378 total posts
Name:
remember, when Gulliver traveled....
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Re: Federal employee preggos... question about pumping at work?
Posted by NYimport
I couldn't tell you what the policy is at your job. I can tell you that, as part of the health care reform bill, the Fair Labor Standards Act was amended to require certain employers to give reasonable breaks and private space for pumping. There is no requirement that the breaks have to be paid. This has been a NY law for a few years, so not much has changed. It's unclear at this point how long a "reasonable" break lasts.
this is what I was looking for.
I am actually doing a massive project with that bill as I write  and I knew I saw it somewhere.
good luck to all of you!!!!!
and they CANNOT CANNOT CANNOT call the bathroom PRIVATE SPACE.
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| Posted 4/7/10 1:04 PM |
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melbalalala
Little Lady
Member since 5/07 5014 total posts
Name:
Melissa
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Re: Federal employee preggos... question about pumping at work?
Posted by Cpt2007
I couldn't find anything on OPM's site other than this.
I'm now searching State's handbooks to see if there is anything in there.
I'm pretty lucky though...I have my own office with a door, and we only have one man in our entire suite. I highly doubt anyone is going to dock me for closing the door a few times a day. At least I would hope not!
I'll keep looking though and post what I find.
GL at your agencies!
Thanks for this! It helps to know that agencies are supportive (esp DOL). I unfortunately have a big 'ol cube and not an office so I'm out of luck there.
Let me know if you find anything else!
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| Posted 4/7/10 1:12 PM |
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Ophelia
she's baaccckkkk ;)
Member since 5/06 23378 total posts
Name:
remember, when Gulliver traveled....
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Re: Federal employee preggos... question about pumping at work?
Posted by melbalalala
Posted by Cpt2007
I couldn't find anything on OPM's site other than this.
I'm now searching State's handbooks to see if there is anything in there.
I'm pretty lucky though...I have my own office with a door, and we only have one man in our entire suite. I highly doubt anyone is going to dock me for closing the door a few times a day. At least I would hope not!
I'll keep looking though and post what I find.
GL at your agencies!
Thanks for this! It helps to know that agencies are supportive (esp DOL). I unfortunately have a big 'ol cube and not an office so I'm out of luck there.
Let me know if you find anything else!
I sit in a cubile as well. they were required to find a utility room for me. it has a chair, a desk, and an electrical outlet.
it's not club med, but it is private (it locks with a key that I have)
I am one of the FEW women to ever do this here in my office (and sadly my agency is NOT on that list) but the law is the law is the law. they MUST find you a space.
good luck.
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| Posted 4/7/10 1:15 PM |
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melbalalala
Little Lady
Member since 5/07 5014 total posts
Name:
Melissa
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Re: Federal employee preggos... question about pumping at work?
Posted by Ophelia
I sit in a cubile as well. they were required to find a utility room for me. it has a chair, a desk, and an electrical outlet.
it's not club med, but it is private (it locks with a key that I have)
I am one of the FEW women to ever do this here in my office (and sadly my agency is NOT on that list) but the law is the law is the law. they MUST find you a space.
good luck.
Did you have to sign-out for your pumping sessions?
How much time did you find yourself taking out of your day to pump?
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| Posted 4/7/10 1:28 PM |
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Ophelia
she's baaccckkkk ;)
Member since 5/06 23378 total posts
Name:
remember, when Gulliver traveled....
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Re: Federal employee preggos... question about pumping at work?
Posted by melbalalala
Posted by Ophelia
I sit in a cubile as well. they were required to find a utility room for me. it has a chair, a desk, and an electrical outlet.
it's not club med, but it is private (it locks with a key that I have)
I am one of the FEW women to ever do this here in my office (and sadly my agency is NOT on that list) but the law is the law is the law. they MUST find you a space.
good luck.
Did you have to sign-out for your pumping sessions?
How much time did you find yourself taking out of your day to pump?
no, I do not sign out for my pumping sessions.
soup to nuts, generally 20 minutes each. I go to a second "let down" and then wait until the last drop.
so it adds up to an hour a day...but I don't go out to lunch as much. also, I stay for deadlines and don't ask for OT if it's for an hour or less.
besides, I don't smoke, and there are people in my office who don't sign out for their ciggie breaks so.....I don't feel too badly.
oh yeah, and then there's the crap maternity policy. so even less guilt here.
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| Posted 4/7/10 2:15 PM |
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Aries14
Can't plan life...
Member since 8/08 2860 total posts
Name:
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Re: Federal employee preggos... question about pumping at work?
Posted by Ophelia
hold on...lemme find the reg....it was INCLUDED in the HCRB
but in my case, I work for DOJ and I pump 3 times a day and do not have to take leave to do so.
I work for DOJ as well and while I dont pump myself - the other woman here that do dont take time. They actually pump in their offices.
Message edited 4/7/2010 2:40:07 PM.
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| Posted 4/7/10 2:39 PM |
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GioiaMia
Let's Go Rangers!
Member since 1/07 14818 total posts
Name:
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Re: Federal employee preggos... question about pumping at work?
Posted by Ophelia
oh yeah, and then there's the crap maternity policy. so even less guilt here.
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| Posted 4/7/10 2:40 PM |
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melbalalala
Little Lady
Member since 5/07 5014 total posts
Name:
Melissa
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Re: Federal employee preggos... question about pumping at work?
Posted by Ophelia
no, I do not sign out for my pumping sessions.
soup to nuts, generally 20 minutes each. I go to a second "let down" and then wait until the last drop.
so it adds up to an hour a day...but I don't go out to lunch as much. also, I stay for deadlines and don't ask for OT if it's for an hour or less.
besides, I don't smoke, and there are people in my office who don't sign out for their ciggie breaks so.....I don't feel too badly.
oh yeah, and then there's the crap maternity policy. so even less guilt here.
Thanks for the pearls... this REALLY helps. And excellent point about cigarette breaks... maybe I should start smoking now to show my boss how often I'm not here so that pumping later won't look as bad!
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| Posted 4/7/10 3:32 PM |
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