Odd civil rights question

[Silenka]

Silenka being retarded? This is my shocked face.

Probably should have clarified what exactly I meant: I was surprised that a public institution such as a school would disallow it on their grounds. I knew women have a legal right to breastfeed, I've seen some of them do it in JcPenney while I was working (sadly, some of them also attempt to change their babies on the display beds, and sometimes get away with it...).

etc

[bigrougabagel]

Holy offering embezzling jesus it still hasnt happened.

[jmc]

Lots of pro-breastfeeding groups will stage a breastfeeding sit-in against places like this. You could just find one, inform them about the prohibition, and let the media take over.

I've seen this on multiple new sources lately, but every time the locations have been somewhat public locations like parks, mcdonalds, stores. This sounds like a private tuition school, and im sure these groups would be booted for trespassing.

[Amelya]

Don't many women just take the baby into the bathroom stall and breast feed in there? Couldn't your wife just do that? Or couldn't she just feed the baby at home before she comes to see you for your lunch break? Personally don't think this is an issue you should bring up when there are several work around that are not really an incontinence anyways.

Are you still in New Orleans?

http://www.legis.state.la.us/lss/lss.asp?doc=104292

E. Breastfeeding not a violation of law. A mother breastfeeding her baby in any location, public or private, where the mother is otherwise authorized to be, shall not be deemed to be in violation of R.S. 14:106 or of any other provision of law.

So technically I think yes it is legal for her to breastfeed at your place of employment if she is allowed to visit you. I don't know if it's really worth making a shit storm over though.

[bungiefan]

Don't many women just take the baby into the bathroom stall and breast feed in there? Couldn't your wife just do that? Or couldn't she just feed the baby at home before she comes to see you for your lunch break? Personally don't think this is an issue you should bring up when there are several work around that are not really an incontinence anyways.

A baby is a living incontinence.

A baby is going to be hungry when it wants to be, not when she wants it to be. Would you want to eat in a bathroom stall?

[Silviya]

A baby is a living incontinence.

A baby is going to be hungry when it wants to be, not when she wants it to be. Would you want to eat in a bathroom stall?

Lol, sorry inconvenience*

I understand that babies are on their own schedules, but she could at least try to feed it before she comes. How often is your wife eating lunch with you at work anyways? I'm sure you've all heard the saying about picking your battles. This just seems like a poor battle to pick to me.

[archibaldcrane]

My wife was told by HR that she isnt allowed to breastfeed on campus

Their school, their rules.

and asked not to breastfeed in our car near the school

They can eat a dick.

Hope that helps.

[Nephlite]

Personally, i'd park my car out on the street and have your wife breastfeed there and dare them to say anything to you doing something on public space that is legal.

Then again, i'm a huge asshole when it comes to stuff like this and would readily get fired over this garbage.

But then you gotta weigh the options. Can you get a new job easily? Are you the breadwinner? Is this really a huge issue to you? Are you open minded enough to tell people to mind their own fucking business and explain to them that the breast isn't exposed infront of children that it's covered up and they're too young to understand what breastfeeding means?

Answer yes to any of the questions above and save yourself the hassle and just let it go. Otherwise, grab your picket-sign and start spreading the word cause you're all set to go for a class action lawsuit.

[archibaldcrane]

Pretty sure he has no lawsuit - the school said "don't breastfeed here". She replies "I'm allowed to breastfeed in any public place or area that I am granted access to!"

And then they say "Ok cool, we are rescinding your access to our private property."

[Ketsuri]

I wasn't planning on walking in there tomorrow with a lawyer and a news crew. I am trying not to get fired. The HR person tells the new guy his wife can't breastfeed on campus and then they get a letter (that I had nothing to do with) from the Breastfeeding Coalition. Don't you think they are going to believe that I said something? I was wondering if I should go the the headmaster with my own letter so that I can be covered under the Whistleblower clause in the school handbook.

She really doesn't come see me that much, so it wasn't a big deal. We were upset because we believed it to be illegal, but didn't plan on a lawsuit or anything. I started to get worried when I heard about the letter from other people to the school.

Also, the nurses station is at the opposite end of the school by the younger kids.

[Silviya]

Ah I misunderstood what you where saying.

So now that someone else (without your involvement) has called the school on this you are wondering if you should jump on their bandwagon in order to be protected from losing your job? Is that correct?

Personally, I would probably just keep my head down. If you never did anything to protest or try to challenge what the HR guy told you I don't think they will suspect you. Alternatively, you could just try talking to the Headmaster or HR person about the situation.

[Salodin]

If the other group brings it up, then go talk to HR to cover your ass. Otherwise, stay out of it. Simple as that.

[aduidarnenye]

If it was a lowly HR person who told you she could not breastfeed on campus then perhaps you should go a rung or two higher up on the ladder to verify that. It could be the HR person's own prejudices ("The young students will be forever harmed by seeing nipples at their age!") and not really school policy.

The people here are pretty sensible though. If you are the sole money earner in your family and you have a wife and baby to care for, standing up for yourself and your family might risk getting fired and losing that sole income. Fuck, it really sucks that people are held hostage like this and most employers know it.

If your wife does sit in the car and discreetly breastfeeds, like with a light blanket over her shoulder and the baby's head, then I doubt the school will put up a fuss. Unless you get a batshit crazy person walking by who thinks breastfeeding in public is one step away from a public orgy.

[Byrthnoth]

If it's a private school, there's probably one or two HR people max. You may as well drop it. Also, depending how rich the school is there's a chance that they own the streets near their school, making it private property and making what they did legal. Depending how well the HR guy knows you, he may have asked you just as a private request to get the PTA or w/e off his back. It is inconvenient that the school is getting harassed by the breastfeeding coalition, but if you guys had nothing to do with it then you may as well just drop the HR guy a line saying so.

I would be entirely unsurprised to find out that you're being caught in the crossfire of a housewife PTA dispute, and bitches can be quite catty. Here's a scenario:
* Bitch A spends 20k a year to send her kid to your school and has very victorian attitudes towards nudity, sex, and children. She doesn't want her son to see a nipple until he's married, and will delude herself to that effect for years.
* Bitch A has nothing better to do than sit around the school doing highly important things with the PTA. In her sitting around, she notices your wife breastfeeding and complains to the HR guy.
* Bitch B spends 20k a year to send her kid to your school, and she earns the money by being a cardiac surgeon with a more realistic view of sexuality. She sees breastfeeding as a natural process that shouldn't be discriminated against. When she's picking up her kid, she hears Bitch A talking and contacts the Breastfeeding Coalition.
* Breastfeeding Coalition letter arrives, you had nothing to do with it but look like the perpetrator. Tough titties.