Can my job legally do this?

Can a job legally make your work schedule longer by 20 minutes to allow you 20 minutes to pump? My job is requiring me to stay an extra 20 minutes a day so I can pump on breaks I already have, but need 10 extra minutes. I'm just curious if they can do this is all? Thank you.
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Help a mama out and respond anonymously on our forum. Can my job legally do this?

Frustrating isnt it when they dont ask the smokers to work the extra hour they spend having ciggy breaks…

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They’re accommodating you. But, way do you need 10 extra minutes? I have a co worker, that’s had 2 babies while I’ve worked with her. She’s pumped during breaks and lunch. They haven’t made her schedule longer.

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Yes, they can. They’re giving you an accommodation.

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I guess they can do what they want. But what a bunch of douches . I would look elsewhere… so many jobs support nursing mothers. My office was one. Hell I even took short naps and no one complained… it’s only a year.
Jobs sometimes have to loose quality people to force change. There are other jobs out there … start looking

Help a mama out and respond anonymously on our forum. Can my job legally do this?

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Reach out to your HR dept for guidance

I’m pretty sure there are certain laws in place to protect breast-feeding mothers, this sounds super illegal and I would be contacting HR, and/or local law enforcement

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From what I have seen where I currently work yes they can. Their reasoning has been that as an employer they are required to accommodate you by giving you a private place to pump but they are not paying you for the time you aren’t working.

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It might depend on the state. Tennessee has great laws protecting breastfeeding mamas.

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In Missouri they have to give you time to pump but it’s not paid so you have to make up the time it takes to pump. However, some employers are better at it and don’t make you clock out to pump.

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So you want to be paid for breastfeeding? Sounds like they are having you work an extra 20 minutes to make up your time

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Its legal here. The women decide to clock out instead though so they don’t work over their time.

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as a M/B RN, my work never did this, But if you are using more of your required break & lunch time, then I can maybe see this. if they want, they can make you work a little more to make up the time they are legally paying you to work, But I really don’t think any job has done this, But I can see it, If my co-worker was leaving to pump every 3 hrs for more than 20 minutes each time, And then takes their breaks & lunch time on top of that, I just might be a little upset about it, especially if I am always working with them & they never medicate their pt’s before hand, And they call & I have to do hers & mine & then they want to be discharged now, & again I am always doing double duty…yea after a while I would be a little pissed, If it was on their lunch period, that’s fine. (but theis has never happened ) Before I go on break I always tell my pt’s this & ask if there is something/anything I can get or do for them beforehand . But as for whatever state that gives you time to do this, yes they should. And your work place isn’t denying you this, but they want you to work your full shift, That they do have a right to, So they can make you punch out to pump & punch back in when you go back to work. Again they are not denying you time to pump, that would be illegal, They just want to pay you for the time you work

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My job is incredibly accommodating when it comes to pumping. We get a 30 minute break for lunch, I use mine as 2 15 minute breaks to pump. They give me an additional 5 minutes to clean up and gather myself. My first session I pump in my classroom during playground time, and then I pump either in our gym room or another quiet area. I have had zero issues so far. I’ve also hit the jackpot with a company that is 100% women, so they totally get it and understand.

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I always pumped on my lunch break while I ate in a locked empty office

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I guess they can but what jerks

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Since when are jobs suppose to let you pump,and pay you for it,and give you a quiet place,isn’t it your responsibility to do it before or after work.your at work,there is a time and place for everything,my job doesn’t do that and where I live I never heard of anyone doing that.

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Nope not in Washington state

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That’s like saying do I need to work extra time to take a crap lol

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It would probably depend if you clock out for your breaks or not… but also it’s not fair if you are clocking out for you to take a longer break than someone else, just like it’s not fair for a smoker to get more breaks than a non smoker.

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Yes cause taking a longer break is considered stealing company time

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Depends on state but from my understanding yes they can have you say 20 minutes longer to pump unless you pump on your lunch break especially since it’s interfering with your work they can actually let you go from my understanding. I always tell my friends to pump on lunch.

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They definitely can. You have to make up for the time you used. They don’t pay you to pump. Start doing it at home before you go into work.

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Ummm they dont pay you to pump. You need extra time. Are people really this silly?

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I believe places are forced to give you breaks but they don’t have to be paid. So if you are pumping on paid time and not working I suppose they could keep you later

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Absolutely not. Contact HR

Shit like this is why i stopped pumping and bottle fed

What does pump break mean lol

You need to find out if your company is under FLAS not all companies are if so yes they have to accommodate. If they are a small business they likely are not required to accommodate you but morally yea they should.

i thought employers legally have to let you pump without asking for longer work time? but i could be wrong

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Its your choice, so if you want extra time off to do it then yes,

So you take longer than your breaks and are mad they want you to make up the time? Yes of court they can and should do that. You’re expecting to be paid to pump outside of your breaks?! Oof

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I would look at it like you are making up the extra time you are losing every break. They are giving you the time to do what you have to do.

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Yes they can :woman_shrugging:t4:

Put it this way, you are paid to do your job, as in your job description when you were first hired, under an agreement. Correct me if I’m wrong, but it sounds like breastfeeding isn’t in your job description. So if they need you to make up the time you used to do something that isn’t in your job description, then they can expect it from you because that’s what you are paid for. If you’re late, same thing applies.

Only thing is, if there’s a some form of leave regarding your situation. Some companies can let you use sick leave for instance.

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NO NO NO. Mama that is Illegal. They are required to let you pump every 5 hours. Your not required to use the breaks you already have. They are required to accommodate you by law, and to have a private space with a locking door, with a sink and outlet to plug in

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I don’t know about making you work longer, I wouldn’t imagine so. Its the law they make sure you have a clean and sanitized area as well. My job is extremely accommidating when it comes to pumping at work… I pump on my first break which is 10 but I always end up going back a few minutes and they have never said anything. I also go again later on in the day an hour n a half after lunch n usually am gone for about 15 mins.

Looks like they don’t have to compensate during nursing breaks…I mean it’s an extra 20min, is it really that big of a deal.

No they can’t…. They need to let you pump you also can do it every 2 hrs if necessary

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Am I the only one who thinks you shouldn’t have to stay later because you had to pump during the day? Lol that’s like being punished for having a baby. By that logic they should be keeping everyone later for the amount of time they used the bathroom that day. Ya’ll sound brainwashed

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I believe if you are getting paid, it’s fine. Seems petty though.

In NYS, with my experience, they redid the handbook for nursing/pumping mothers. You have a breastfeeding law bill of rights and it is up to your work. I was offered to stay late to make up time but I just said no idc I’m not working that much more expesically when all I want to do is go home and be with my baby. So look up the breastfeeding mothers bill if rights for your state.

Tbh Sounds like some of these people have never breastfed. your boobs get so engorged there’s no way you can’t pump throughout the day it hurts like crazy and you risk infections. On top of that you reduce your supply if you only pump outside of work. Buuuuut you should be clocked out when you pump and they should ask if she can stay late not enforce you to. I guess it depends on your job. My job was very understanding and did not even ask me to stay later.

I did not have to clock out for breaks, I believe the rule is that if you have paid breaks they have to continue to pay you for pump breaks. I asked for a laptop so I could work thru my pump breaks and was told absolutely not, I was to focus on pumping, that was by my office not by my employer. It’s a shame how nursing mamas can be treated. I would certainly go above the person who is telling you this because it is certainly unreasonable for them to expect you to get everything required for pumping done plus pump for at least 15 min during what is likely a 15 min break. I would suspect that your hr department wouldn’t wanna touch that situation with a 10 ft pole and they would make your superior be flexible for the short time in your life that you are nursing

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There are a lot of jobs available.

As long as they aren’t making you clock out, it’s completely legal.

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you should look for another job. That just reflects how they are as a company, and I wouldnt want to be around that.

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If you’re pumping on your breaks then no they can’t if you pump doing work time then yes

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Not in NJ! I’m sorry that is terrible! What do you do for work?? This may depend on the state but you should check for sure!

Check with your HR dept, some jobs are different than others and the laws and guidelines have changed so much recently. I would also look into your state laws just in case

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Maybe buy the pumps you can wear under your bra? So you don’t have to worry about taking extra breaks. Just a thought

As long as you clock out. You can have as many breaks as you want. Get a doctor’s excuse just in case. That way you can start a paper trail in case you end up suing.

For example

I get two 15 min paid breaks in my 8 hr day. I get 1 hour and a half lunch. So I break up my lunch.

15 min paid in morning plus 30 min lunch.

1 hour lunch in afternoon plus my 15 min break. That last one is when I wash all my parts etc for the next day. If I ever need an extra break I just break up my last hour to a 30 min.

they have to give you something in writing.

Wooow but people can get smoke breaks for free… Sad…

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If staying over on breaks, yes. Breaks are 10,not 20 :woman_shrugging: thats how it is.

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Can you just clock out for it? Then it’s not on companies time, & shouldn’t be an issue.
You need to ask HR. Or your union rep. Read your state laws. You’ll get 100 different answers on here.

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This rule is federal- look it up and read section 7

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No they just aren’t obligated to pay you for the extra time you take to pump

Depends on your state laws. In NY, they are required to give you time and a space to do so.

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No they can not make you stay but keep in mind you are taking and extra 10 minutes on every break which is not scheduled. If you don’t want to stay the extra 20 minutes don’t take longer breaks.

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Wow that’s ridiculous

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No, you’re to work the hours you were hired for

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Yes it’s legal but it doesn’t sound like they have a family first culture. If i were you I’d seek better employment. There are nursing mother policies and it’s something you should speak to HR about.

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Depends on the state laws.

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If you’re in the US……Theoretically, No they cannot. The theoretically part comes with how big of a company you work for on whether or not they are bound by federal law. If they employ more than 50 people (company-wide, not just at your location) they HAVE to provide you with time to pump. And a space to do it. This means during your scheduled work day, not adding time to your shift. Source US Department of Labor

If the company you work for is a local small business with fewer than 50 employees you’d have to look up your state law regarding it.

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The only over-the-counter medicine I’ve ever used on my son was a steroid for croup but all other treatments were homeopathic, we’ve never even done and OTC antibiotics

FUCK that. Ppl get smoke breaks.

They are required to allow you to do so and provide a private space for you to do it. However, you clock out to do it or during a paid break. If your break time is not long enough they are within their legal rights to extend your time to cover your pumping time.

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Technically they have to give you the time but they do not have to pay you for it… they do make pumps now that just fit in your bra that you can slide In before break and during your break you can get situated with cleaning out pumps and getting milk in fridge

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I would suggest you contact an attorney in your state to find out instead of listening to a bunch of Facebook lawyers.

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At last in my state, the are required to let you have breaks but they are not required to pay you for them. So this would make sense to add 20 minutes to cover the 20 you spend pumping of they’re making you clock out.

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Look up your state bf laws, I used to pump two times in an 8 hr shift including while eating in lunch and all I had to do was clock out and be back I’m with in 15-20 minutes.

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The US sucks . We just really are terrible about maternity leave, pumping, and everything. All we can about is money……. It’s really bad

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I think they both should be allowed 15 minute breaks like everyone else…nothing extra. No one should be treated differently.

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Maybe for the extra 10 minutes over your break time, but not 20.

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Probably depends on the counrty you are living in, the company that you are working for and the contract which you have signed. For free legal advise in South Africa, join the Legal Talk South Africa facebook page.

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I’d say yes. I guess there could be state laws that might not allow it but lots of jobs make you make up any time missed. I mean it sucks but someone else is covering while you pump so they go home and you stay a few extra minutes. Only seems fair to me.

They have to give you time to pump, per federal law, but it doesn’t say anything about not making that time up.

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If you’re taking longer breaks than assigned…then yes they can. You are wanting to get paid 20 extra mins while not working.

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That’s petty do they time you in restroom

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Yeah, no.
You need a lawyer tho bc states are different but that falls under duscrimination under the ADA.

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I have no idea if this is legal or not, but if they can do this to a breastfeeding mother who needs to pump for her health and the health of her baby, then they need to also do this for smokers :woman_shrugging:t4:

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The more you think about it the worse it gets … a mother in todays society has to pay the price for wanting to feed her child .

If companies have an issue with having to pump then maybe all companies should extend maternity leave ?

Also, try getting a doctors note . There is little a company can do if you have a note from your doctor .

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I would pump and not worry about the 10 minutes. Your baby worth it.

Call your state workforce commission and ask! You can ask general questions without them asking any personal info.

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Yeah that sounds about right. Either that or take 20 minutes off your paid hours per day…

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If you work 8 hours, you are given 2 15-min breaks and a 30-min meal. Can you offer to drop your meal to 20, so that extra 10 can be split into your 2 breaks. You’d then get 3 20-minutes during the day. Good luck!

Yes. Why do they owe you more paid time off the clock than the law requires already? And why do you feel so entitled to think they owe you? They’re running a business. They have a business to run. They’re accommodating you. Get real lady!

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They probably have the right to do so. However it’s BS in my book when people who smoke tend to take more breaks than anyone else.

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If youre taking only an extra 10 minutes, then only have to makeup the extra 10 minutes

Im pretty sure they are within their legal right. Have to look at it like this, if u were 20 min late u would stay an extra 20 min. Now should they do this, hell no. I wouldnt even wanna work for a company that handled my pumping times like this. But u could also look at it in a different light, they let u make up the time u miss and u dont have to lose any pay from pumping.

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You might also look up the required break times for how long you’re working on your state. You actually get quite a few breaks, that most people don’t take.

NO that is NOT LEGAL.

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They have to provide you space if they have over 50 employees, they are required to give you space but can make you work extra! Your employer is not so great!

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The women on here not supporting other women need a reality check. Y’all need to stand up and support other women. You either haven’t had kids or you are so old that you don’t remember how hard it was when you did. Another fine example of letting men run our lives. Y’all are ridiculous. And you wonder why we can’t get equal pay and are still treated worse than every other country on the planet. Greedy crybabies.

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The federal Break Time for Nursing Mothers law requires employers covered by the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) to provide basic accommodations for breastfeeding mothers at work. These accommodations include time for women to express milk and a private space that is NOT a bathroom each time they need to pump.

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