Pumping in NY | Imamother

amother

OP ↓

Tue, Aug 27 2024, 6:57 pm

IY"H I'm due in a few weeks and trying to make pumping arrangements. According to what I'm reading online https://dol.ny.gov/expressing-.....place the law in NY is that my employer has to give me 30 min when I need it in addition to my regular break time.
I teach part time. I don't know that it's worth arguing about it being in addition to my regular paid break (frustrating as it is because I really need the time to prep and you can't prep and pump at the same time...) but the timing part is really challenging. The time they want to give me to pump is really not the time I'll need it - it will either be too early or too late. What should I do? Anyone else have experience with this in NY?

amother

DarkPurple ↓

Tue, Aug 27 2024, 7:06 pm

I would push for a time that actually works for you. You have the right to prioritize your baby.

I taught part time but never had a break until I started pumping and I chose the time that worked for me and worked with admin to figure out how to make it work.

amother

Hyssop

Tue, Aug 27 2024, 7:07 pm

They're required to allow you time to pump, and a place to pump, but they don't have to pay you for that time.

amother

↑ OP ↓

Tue, Aug 27 2024, 7:31 pm

amother Hyssop wrote:

They're required to allow you time to pump, and a place to pump, but they don't have to pay you for that time.

The law was changed in June of 2024 -- "Your employer must give you 30 minutes of paid break time when you reasonably need to express breast milk. You can take shorter breaks if you chose. You may also use your regular paid break time or meal time to pump breast milk if you would like, or if you need additional time beyond 30 minutes. You can also choose to take breaks for breast milk expression right before or after your regularly scheduled meal time or paid break periods."

amother

↑ OP ↓

Tue, Aug 27 2024, 7:33 pm

amother DarkPurple wrote:

I tried pushing but didn't exactly get the result I was looking for. I always have an oversupply at the beginning and as it is going 3 hours is hard enough, going for 4 is going to be miserable. I don't know how I'll be able to teach a class when I feel like I'm exploding.

amother

↑ DarkPurple ↓

Tue, Aug 27 2024, 7:44 pm

amother OP wrote:

Other than pushing harder and being ready to leave if you don't get what you need, I'm not sure there's much else you can do

Molly Weasley

Tue, Aug 27 2024, 9:40 pm

amother DarkPurple wrote:

Other than pushing harder and being ready to leave if you don't get what you need, I'm not sure there's much else you can do

I would consider threatening to leave as a persuasive tactic instead of resorting to legal threats.

amother

↑ DarkPurple

Tue, Aug 27 2024, 9:48 pm

Molly Weasley wrote:

I would consider threatening to leave as a persuasive tactic instead of resorting to legal threats.

Agreed. I'd faster leave a position than threaten legal action

amother

↑ OP

Tue, Aug 27 2024, 10:05 pm

I'm definitely not planning to threaten legal action... I am thinking about just saying I'll take 3 months instead of 6 weeks - by then I'll be able to go for longer without pumping.

amother

Lemonlime

Wed, Aug 28 2024, 5:23 am

amother OP wrote:

I'm definitely not planning to threaten legal action... I am thinking about just saying I'll take 3 months instead of 6 weeks - by then I'll be able to go for longer without pumping.

That's a reasonable thing. "if I come back at 6 weeks, I need a break every 2.5 hours to pump. If that's not doable, I can't return until 3 months as allowed by FMLA". The balls in their court now.