The Key To Breast Pump

 

Video from KTLA

 

Despite **laws passed allowing women to breastfeed at work and specific requirements about the areas that must be provided to allow them to do so, some companies are still fighting it. Hennessey's Tavern in Seal Beach CA is one of them.

 

Hennessey's Tavern (Seal Beach CA location) refused to allow one of their waitstaff to pump her breasts during her shift in their restaurant.

 

Kristen Joseph, a 28-year-old single mom, says she was denied her right to pump her breast milk while on the job. She has worked at Hennessey's Tavern in Seal Beach for three years. She had been using the manager's office when she took her break to pump her milk but had to ask for the key. Previously this had not been a problem, but this night it was. 

 

The manager is reported to have said 'no' to her request for the key to the office and to have commented that it (breast feeding) was "disgusting."

 

(Note: this is not a company wide policy, but a single restaurant in a chain acting independently.)

 

Management needs to wake up and join the 21st century. Breast feeding is one of the best things we can do for infant health, so what's the problem? Seems some of the world has missed the message.

 

So just in case you're an employer who is reading this...get with the program! Whether you like it or not it is THE LAW. I have a feeling Hennessy's is going to regret not giving her the opportunity to pump.

 

Kristen Joseph has still not heard from corporate (who is "conducting an investigation")--we hope they will come down hard and allow all their mothers who need a place to pump to do so without harassment from their managers, no matter what the manager's personal opinion.

Post on Hennessey's Seal Beach Facebook page to encourage corporate cooperation.

**Federal law requires any employer with 50 or more employees to provide an area -- other than a bathroom -- for women to pump breast milk. It also allows women to breastfeed their children anywhere, at any time, in any public place.