A single mom, just trying to pump milk for her 6-month-old son was told no way. Kristen Joseph works as a server in Hennessey’s Tavern, a restaurant in Seal Beach, CA. She said for the past few months she has been able to take a break during her shift to pump her breast milk in the manager’s office. However, last week, the manager would not give her the keys. He told her it was disgusting and that people eat there.
The law says that women are allowed to pump at work and breastfeed anywhere. Joseph says that when she doesn’t pump she becomes engorged. She said she finished out her shift, while her breasts were leaking out her shirt. She has contacted the upper management of the restaurant and they are looking into the incident.
Joseph stated: “They have to provide me a safe, sanitary private place. When I told [the manager] it was against the law for him to deny me of that, he kind of just went off. I’m not trying to do anything negative. I’m taking this as a very positive opportunity to make the situation aware to other women, to mothers. Because we’re all interested in the same thing: the well-being of our children. California law does “allow a mother to breastfeed her child in any location, private or public, except the private home or residence of another.”
What do you think of this situation? Should her manager be fired or reprimanded?
