Teh One Who Knocks
08-24-2012, 10:54 AM
KTLA News
http://i.imgur.com/zSfo2.jpg
SEAL BEACH, Calif. (KTLA) -- A 28-year-old single mother who works as a server at a restaurant says she was denied her right to pump her breast milk while on the job.
Kristen Joseph has worked at Hennessey's Tavern in Seal Beach for three years.
She balances her job with caring for her six-month-old son, Wrigley.
Joseph says that she usually takes a 10 minute break to pump her breast milk in the manager's office.
"If I don't pump, then my breasts are very engorged and they hurt and they leak," Joseph explained.
But this past week, when she asked the on-duty manager for the keys to the office, she says she was told no.
"He said that whether it's in an office or in the bathroom, I was still in the restaurant and that was disgusting... and that people eat there," Joseph said.
"I went outside and I was freaking out and crying," Joseph said. "My co-workers tried to calm me down."
Joseph says her boss told her she could leave, but with several more tables to close out and paperwork to do, she stayed on duty, her breast milk leaking through her shirt.
Joseph contacted Hennessey's corporate offices, who are conducting an investigation.
Federal law requires any employer with 50 or more employees to provide an area -- other than a bathroom -- for women to pump breast milk.
It also allows women to breastfeed their children anywhere, at any time, in any public place.
Joseph called her general manager, but still hasn't heard back.
She has since reached out to the corporate office who says they are investigating the incident.
http://i.imgur.com/zSfo2.jpg
SEAL BEACH, Calif. (KTLA) -- A 28-year-old single mother who works as a server at a restaurant says she was denied her right to pump her breast milk while on the job.
Kristen Joseph has worked at Hennessey's Tavern in Seal Beach for three years.
She balances her job with caring for her six-month-old son, Wrigley.
Joseph says that she usually takes a 10 minute break to pump her breast milk in the manager's office.
"If I don't pump, then my breasts are very engorged and they hurt and they leak," Joseph explained.
But this past week, when she asked the on-duty manager for the keys to the office, she says she was told no.
"He said that whether it's in an office or in the bathroom, I was still in the restaurant and that was disgusting... and that people eat there," Joseph said.
"I went outside and I was freaking out and crying," Joseph said. "My co-workers tried to calm me down."
Joseph says her boss told her she could leave, but with several more tables to close out and paperwork to do, she stayed on duty, her breast milk leaking through her shirt.
Joseph contacted Hennessey's corporate offices, who are conducting an investigation.
Federal law requires any employer with 50 or more employees to provide an area -- other than a bathroom -- for women to pump breast milk.
It also allows women to breastfeed their children anywhere, at any time, in any public place.
Joseph called her general manager, but still hasn't heard back.
She has since reached out to the corporate office who says they are investigating the incident.