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Last week, the baby products company, Tommee Tippee launched a nationwide contest called "Scary Pump Rooms", for the worst pump room in America. Through February 28, people are invited to upload photos of their workplace lactation facilities in exchange for a chance to win a pumping room make-over, courtesy of the company.
Based on Fairygodboss' past surveys of women about the state of their pumping rooms at work, almost 50% of women report facilities that they felt were inadequate, so I imagine that Tommee Tippee will be receiving a good number of entries of rooms that look like bathroom stalls, or cramped and dirty utility closets. Submissions will be narrowed to four finalists, and the public will vote on the scariest room of all.
In addition to bringing some much-needed transparency -- literally -- to the shoddy state of many pumping rooms in America, Tommee Tippee is encouraging workplace managers and owners to take an online pledge to confirm their commitment to making positive change to their pump rooms. Sharon Swan, director of North American Marketing at Tommee Tippee, shared some of her thoughts about the contest and pumping rooms with me.
In particular, I was interested to hear what she thought the ideal lactation room environment at work should look like. Swan told me:
In an ideal world, every working mom would have a private and comfortable space in which to pump. It's helpful for the room to be physically removed enough from her work space for her to be able to mentally distance herself from work while she pumps. A calm and private environment is essential. Comfortable seating and an outlet to power her pump and charge her phone/laptop is a must. In a perfect world, you’d also have a sink, refrigerator, and a place to store your pumping gear to eliminate the need to haul everything back and forth each day. And snacks and water certainly don't hurt.
Many working moms have shared with Fairygodboss that one of the most difficult things about returning to work was the period of having to juggle breastfeeding and pumping with work. Therefore, while it might seem superfluous to focus on these little details, better pumping rooms send a message that an employer is supportive of new mothers at a time when they are most stressed about how to balance their new family obligations with their job and careers. Countless stories working moms share on Fairygodboss indicate that this is clearly a very vulnerable time in a woman's career, which means that every every little gesture is appreciated.
But what if your pumping room is simply not up to your standards? Is there anything you can do? Federal law on breastfeeding requirements states that employers provide "a place, other than a bathroom, that is shielded from view and free from intrusion from coworkers and the public, which may be used by an employee to express breast milk." But what if your employer just doesn't seem to meet the standard?
Swan suggests that pumping moms approach their employer to have a conversation about "improving an existing space or creating a new pumping room." She says, "Always make sure the door has a lock, and make the room bookable (if possible) so moms can claim the time they need to pump." Her other tips for employers include having a refrigerator that is reserved for breast milk only, comfortable seating, and a cabinet with extra pumping supplies. "We know there are many circumstances and spaces in which moms pump. Any small change you can make can make a difference, even if it’s as simple as making sure there are paper towels and a trash can in the room."
Hopefully contests like this one can help generate some awareness of the ways companies can support their new moms. As Swan says, it doesn't have to take a lot of effort to make an important difference!
