Mom Loses Job After Asking If She Can Pump Breast Milk At Work

She is now on a mission to raise awareness for other working moms

Over the last 50 years or so, we’ve come an awful long way when it comes to women’s rights in the workplace. However, judging by this recent news story coming out of Alabama, it looks like we still have some way to go yet.

A mother is speaking out to raise awareness around maternity issues in the workplace, after she was forced to leave her job when she requested to pump breast milk at work.

Haley Gentle said she was planning to return to work after she gave birth to her baby in January. Her employer was planning on her return, too, until she asked if she would be able to pump her breast milk at work when she got back.

She spoke about her ordeal in an interview with CBS affiliate WHNT:

“I was told almost immediately that that was not allowed — that I could pump during my lunch hour but not during work time because what he would allow for me he would have to allow for other people,”

“Pregnant women do have rights in the workplace,” said Teri Mastando, an attorney who specializes in employment laws. “Unfortunately, what rights you have varies based on the number of employees your company has.”

New mom raising awareness after losing job over requesting to pump at work https://t.co/Xr00CFxp1d pic.twitter.com/1a819cDFcT

— WHNT (@whnt) April 4, 2019

In this case, Haley’s company had fewer than 50 employees, which meant that any accommodations the company didn’t want to make for her have to be proven as to be an “undue hardship.”

“I feel like that I did everything that a mother should do,” she said. “I went and I found out what my rights were.”

After she had received legal advice, Gentle followed up with her employer by sending a certified letter asking for reasonable accommodations — specifically, she asked for two 20-minute breaks per day to pump – and was not expecting to be paid for these breaks.

“They can only deny those breaks if they can show there’s a hardship involved,” Mastando said.

A few days later, after receiving the certified letter, Gentle’s employer said it would be willing to discuss accommodations. By that time, however, Gentle had decided she’d prefer to work somewhere else due to the lack of consideration shown towards her.

She now has a new job lined up where she will have access to a private pumping room any time she needs it. Gentle has also since been appointed the Alabama ambassador for the Normalize Breastfeeding initiative.

“I want mothers to know that there are support groups out there,” she said. “And for them to know their rights, too.”

 

Teri Mastando spoke on the same subject to WHNT:

“Unfortunately, in my world, ‘right’ and ‘legal obligations’ are two different things,” Mastando said. “The best advice I would give to someone doing that is to find out in advance and get in writing what their employer’s plan is.”

This is important to remember – rights and accommodations will vary from one employer to another, so if you’re expecting, make sure you  know where you stand ahead of time.

I’m glad there are some employers out there who are willing to do the right thing. All the best to Haley in her new job. AAx

Image credits: WHNT News

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