[...] Pumping at work can be a real drag — especially when there’s no time or appropriate place to do it, so this could be a huge shift in the right direction. The new law specifies that employees must have “a place, other than a bathroom, that is shielded from view and free from intrusion from co-workers and the public, which may be used by an employee to express breast milk.” [...]

I believe the new health-care law mandates a non-bathroom private area to be available for women to pump. (My work was considering putting a lock on a conference room, but I told them I was going to quit soon anyway and not to bother. We have a 1-stall locker room upstairs that no one uses, and that was what I was using to pump in )

My workplace provided a converted utility closet with a desk and outlet as a specifically designated lactation room. While I was glad I didn’t have to pump in the bathroom, pumping at work still sucks. Your schedule is inflexible, you’re mysteriously unavailable frequently throughout the day, and the people you work with start to get irritated at you. I have a slow letdown and after a lot of work when my son was a newborn, my supply is barely adequate. I had to pump 3 times at work plus once after he went to bed for 20 minutes each time to get enough for the next day. Plus, lugging all your crap (the pumping crap, and the crap you bring to try to get some work done while you’re pumping) gets super tiresome. I know it doesn’t have to be an either/or game – but I would much rather see lobbying efforts going towards making truly family-friendly workplaces rather than pumping-friendly workplaces. I’d like to see: maternity leave that is longer and paid; telecommuting options specifically designated for new mothers; and tax incentives to create on-site daycares for employers above a certain size so mothers can nurse instead of pump.

had a full lactation room (as per CA law) but completely unsupportive boss (female, mother). I ended up pumping for four months and getting a review that said my disappearances made it “appear that I didn’t want to be there”. Went on my permanent record.

@g8grl – things were exactly the same at my work. We had a lactation room and an official “policy” to allow women time to pump, but if a woman actually decided to use this time they would be viewed as uncommitted employees. And this was usually from the female executives. I was in management at the time, and it was usually just me and a few men who stood up for these women, but we usually got some major eye rolls. The thing is, we had a ton of employees who spent half the day BS-ing, and nobody cared because people could at least see them around the office. It was all about face-time, which you lose when you take pumping breaks, even if you are doing as much (or more) work than everyone else.

I think we need a cultural shift where work performed and results become more important than face time. This would allow other family-friendly options, like telecommuting and flex-time. I think this would be good for everyone, even employees without kids. In addition, the company could benefit by focusing on results which should result in more profit.

Wow, I guess I’m lucky. I had a very supportive company, very supportive boss, and was able to use my laptop and pump at the same time. I can’t complain.

I guess I have been extremely lucky in the month I have been back to work I have had support from my department manager and coworkers when it comes to pumping. In an 8 hour workday I am only pumping once though. It saddens me how breastfeeding is so looked down upon if you aren’t a stay at home parent by so many companies. Using my break time to go into the locked office that my manager set up for doesn’t cause anyone else any problems, I am here, I do my work and I have a bag that the milk goes in so no one has to see it. I think that pumping at work and nursing in public(although my daughter had latch issues so I have exclusively pumped for her 3 months) shouldn’t be questioned,why badger a mom for wanting what is best for her baby?