Babies 6 Weeks of Age?

[Chickenhauler]

I am sure that there are companies who do require women to pump during their regular break times...during my last 3 jobs prior to daycare we didn't get "breaks." We got an hour for lunch, but other than that we used the restroom, got coffee, or pumped when we needed to.

It isn't just nursing women who get special accomodations. Hell, smokers had been getting special treatment for YEARS!

In the end, it still comes down to this...EVERYBODY benefits from breast feeding. The company with healthy, happy mothers who are at work and productive as opposed to at home with a sick child--not to mention the reduction in health care services and savings on insurance premiums. In a perfect world, when the company is productive and saving money, the employees are making more money, getting better benefits, and enjoy a certain level of job security.

Lots of people get special treatment for different things. We in Minnesota are fortunate enough to be able to purchase subsidized health insurance if we are self employed or if our employer doesn't offer health care. Many people balk about that, but in reality it comes down to the same thing. It is CHEAPER to ensure that people have access to health care than it is to deal with health issues once they have become emergent. Same deal, it is cheaper to provide women with the opportunity to pump than it is to have them home with sick kids or in the doctors office.

How about this.....EVERYONE be responsible for their own choices in life?

Why are we subsidizing ANYTHING? Unless someone is flat broke, destitute, and unable to care for themselves, we shouldn't be subsidizing them.

Why do people think it's acceptable to take money from someone by force (threat of arrest and jail) to give to someone else who doesn't have as much? If you or I did that, we'd be called thieves, extortionists and criminals. Why is it OK for the gov't to do it?


Pump during your regular breaks (in the state of MN, if you work 8 hours, the law states you get 15 mins paid break after two hours).

IDK where you have worked, but every place I have ever been employed, if you wanted to smoke, pump, talk on the phone, or just stare at the wall, you did it on your regularly scheduled breaks, not during the work periods, and not when you felt like it.


Can you tell that I really have a strong dislike for nanny government?

[QualiTcare]

Ok, now answer the question-where will the money come from?


Are you going to mandate that every person, regardless of whether they have children, plan to have children or even cannot have children, have a percentage deducted from their paycheck to be paid out to those who have kids?

That, my dear lady, is socialism.


Why would I be against it? Because I live in the real world where I understand that money doesn't just appear magically. Before the gov't can give ANYONE ANYTHING, they must first take it from someone else.

And that's WRONG.

i did answer where the money comes from. it comes from working people's paychecks...just like unemployment and SSI regardless of whether they will ever be unemployed or live to see SSI.

i'm pretty sure there are more people give birth or have a wife that gives birth than people who get laid off.

again, are you against unemployment? it's the same concept, except much more likely to happen.

furthermore, there is a paid maternity/paternity leave in america - it's called WELFARE! if people who don't work and don't want to can get a free check and stay home with their babies - what's so unbelievable about WORKING people being able to do it, but the money is coming from what they've paid in and NOT what everyone else has paid in like you're suggesting.

[QualiTcare]

My question is, why can't this be performed on their regularly scheduled break times?

Why should there have to be special accommodations made for them?

in tennessee, employers are required to give employees an unpaid 30 minute break if they work more than 6 hours and IF they work at a job that's not considered to already allow "rest time" by the nature of the job - which is very vague. not to mention, the 30 minutes could be given anytime after the 6hours, not on the sixth hour. it could be on the tenth or eleventh hour. unless you want a wet t shirt contest via breast milk going on in your place of business, you'd have to get over the "it's not fair cus i'm a man" attitude.

the alternative is allowing a shorter break where the employee gets paid. i worked somewhere once where i got one ten minute paid break when i worked from 9-4:30. sure, i could pump breast milk if i had the pump set up and ready at the break table and someone was feeding me while i pumped. oh yeah, who needs to eat? that's silly.

[jen]

I have worked in several places, my last employer was an accounting firm where I was the Director of Administration, prior to that a college prepatory school as the Assistant Development Director, and before that the Assistant to the Controller for a very large apparel service in the United States and Canada (think uniforms and bathroom towels).

I think the kind of specified "break times" you are thinking of are more of a blue collar/union thing...the law in Minnesota is actually pretty vague...

http://www.dli.mn.gov/LS/WorkBreaks.asp

"The state law requires employers to provide restroom time and sufficient time to eat a meal. If the break is less than 20 minutes in duration, it must be counted as hours worked.

Time to use the nearest restroom must be provided within each four consecutive hours of work. Meal time applies to employees who work eight or more consecutive hours (see Minnesota Statutes 177.253 and 177.254)."

[Chickenhauler]

i did answer where the money comes from. it comes from working people's paychecks...just like unemployment and SSI regardless of whether they will ever be unemployed or live to see SSI.

Where did you get the idea that unemployment insurance premiums are deducted from the employees paychecks?

These are premiums paid by the employer based upon the number of employees they have file against it (history).

i'm pretty sure there are more people give birth or have a wife that gives birth than people who get laid off.

So you admit that the costs of this program would be much higher?

again, are you against unemployment? it's the same concept, except much more likely to happen.

The way that it is abused by so many, yes. I think we've all heard multiple persons say "Why should I go find a job, I got unemployment" or "I better start looking for work, my unemployment is going to run out".

furthermore, there is a paid maternity/paternity leave in america - it's called WELFARE! if people who don't work and don't want to can get a free check and stay home with their babies - what's so unbelievable about WORKING people being able to do it, but the money is coming from what they've paid in and NOT what everyone else has paid in like you're suggesting.

Don't even get me started on welfare, my theory is the able bodied should work or starve. No sympathy for the lazy.

Here's a better idea-people should wait until they are financially able to take responsiblity for having kids. Why should everyone else pay for their decisions/lack of responsibility?

[Chickenhauler]

in tennessee, employers are required to give employees an unpaid 30 minute break if they work more than 6 hours and IF they work at a job that's not considered to already allow "rest time" by the nature of the job - which is very vague. not to mention, the 30 minutes could be given anytime after the 6hours, not on the sixth hour. it could be on the tenth or eleventh hour. unless you want a wet t shirt contest via breast milk going on in your place of business, you'd have to get over the "it's not fair cus i'm a man" attitude.

the alternative is allowing a shorter break where the employee gets paid. i worked somewhere once where i got one ten minute paid break when i worked from 9-4:30. sure, i could pump breast milk if i had the pump set up and ready at the break table and someone was feeding me while i pumped. oh yeah, who needs to eat? that's silly.

Sounds like you worked for a crappy employer. That was your choice.

Don't you see what will happen if you suddenly mandate the kind of things nationwide that you would like to see?

Less women will get jobs. And when they get pregnant, their employers will find a reason to 'lay them off' or 'dismiss them'.

[QualiTcare]

Sounds like you worked for a crappy employer. That was your choice.

Don't you see what will happen if you suddenly mandate the kind of things nationwide that you would like to see?

Less women will get jobs. And when they get pregnant, their employers will find a reason to 'lay them off' or 'dismiss them'.

are you SERIOUS?

that's exactly WHY things like this should be mandated - because there are LOTS of crappy employers out there, and not everyone has the option to quit their job because they don't have a break that allows them to breastfeed. instead, they just don't breastfeed. my point exactly.

btw, i wasn't breastfeeding when i worked there. but if i had needed to, it wouldn't have been possible.

oh - and employers already find reasons to dismiss pregnant women.

[Chickenhauler]

are you SERIOUS?

that's exactly WHY things like this should be mandated - because there are LOTS of crappy employers out there, and not everyone has the option to quit their job because they don't have a break that allows them to breastfeed. instead, they just don't breastfeed. my point exactly.

btw, i wasn't breastfeeding when i worked there. but if i had needed to, it wouldn't have been possible.

oh - and employers already find reasons to dismiss pregnant women.

Like I said, maybe you just worked for a crappy employer. I've done that too. But as soon as I realized what they were, I found another job.


So, once again, where will the money come from?

Will you be adding this onto an already insane amount of deductions from the workers paycheck?

Or will you be adding yet another burden upon the employer?



Here's a better idea....those that want to purchase it, can purchase a policy to do so. But we already have that, don't we? It's called "planning", and I'm sick and tired of paying for other people's lack of it.

[jen]

I've noticed that you don't respond to simple facts...like that it actually saves the company money to allow women to breast feed. It is easy for you to focus on opinion but your comments would mean a great deal more if you dealt with the facts.

[QualiTcare]

it's nice that you could just quit your job and find another.

a lot of people can't do that - especially today - and especially if they're pregnant.

if you're tired of handouts, you should be mad at all the people who get paid to sit at home and do nothing aka welfare. if they can get checks, food, etc. and don't even work - why can't people who work get the benefit of maternity/paternity leave like most of the rest of the world does. oh, wait, i guess they do have a "choice" in that they could quit their job and sign up for welfare. gotta love america.

the U.S. is far behind when it comes to education, healthcare, and what we've been talking about - maternity benefits. there's no reason for that - other than greed.

[Unregistered]

I could be mistaken in these facts and you are welcome to check but....

In USA, employers must provide FMLA (12 weeks UNPAID time off) for maternity/paternity/adoption if the company employees more than 50 employees. Those that have fewer than 50 employees are exempt from providing FMLA. Where a person receives any compensation while on such leave is thru a short term disability policy and one would have to give birth--adoption or paternity doesn't constitute a claim to a short term disability policy. And from there, the payout is generally 66% of normal earnings and only thru the timespan that your doctor has written you out. Speaking of a disability policy, the employee would elect to receive such and contribute thru small premiums deducted from each paycheck. True, an employer kicks in a portion on any insurance premium--health, disability, life insurance--but so does the employee. But for an all out handout while on maternity leave--I'm not aware of one.

[AmandasFCC]

We have all those things you list here in America, you are free to choose which healthcare provider you want to pay for, you are free to attend whatever level of education you want to pay for, and you are free to take as much or as little time off when you or your spouse has a child.

Who is paying for this leave? Where is the money coming from? This is the question I ask everytime someone brings up one social program or another, yet nobody can give me a straight, honest answer. All I ever hear is "Don't worry about it, we'll figure it out later"....dammit, that's why this nation is in the condition it's in, we spend, spend, spend, and worry about paying the tab later.


So, if I moved to one of these nations that are so 'equal', when my co-worker goes to breast feed, I also get a paid break also?

I highly doubt it, I'm willing to bet that while she's getting paid to pump or breastfeed, I'm getting paid to do twice the work for the same amount of money.

When my wife was working a regular job, she did her pumping on her regularly scheduled breaks, not during special paid breaks that she was given just because she was breast feeding.

In Canada, throughout the year a portion of your pay is taken as taxes off each cheque for EI, which is employment insurance. Once you have accumulated enough hours (when I took my mat leave, it was 900 hours) of work, then you are able to claim Maternity Benefits, Sickness benefits, and benefits if you are laid off. It's just like any other insurance, only it doesn't cost us an arm and a leg.

[Chickenhauler]

I've noticed that you don't respond to simple facts...like that it actually saves the company money to allow women to breast feed. It is easy for you to focus on opinion but your comments would mean a great deal more if you dealt with the facts.

These are my opinions, I am not putting them forth as facts.

When a person puts hard stats and links to back them up, they become facts in a debate.

You're not my mommy, therefore, 'cuz I said so' does not qualify as a fact.

it's nice that you could just quit your job and find another.

a lot of people can't do that - especially today - and especially if they're pregnant.

if you're tired of handouts, you should be mad at all the people who get paid to sit at home and do nothing aka welfare. if they can get checks, food, etc. and don't even work - why can't people who work get the benefit of maternity/paternity leave like most of the rest of the world does. oh, wait, i guess they do have a "choice" in that they could quit their job and sign up for welfare. gotta love america.

the U.S. is far behind when it comes to education, healthcare, and what we've been talking about - maternity benefits. there's no reason for that - other than greed.

Yup, welfare ranks up there on my list of rants, but that's another subject altogether. I thought we were discussing something else?

Why is it either get a gov't program just for a special interest group, or welfare?

Why can't people buy disability insurance (which is misnamed, maybe should be called "unable to be at work insurance") like we did with child #2? Why can't they save and plan ahead like we did with #3?

Why does it have to be a gov't nanny project to hold people's hand all the time?

the U.S. is far behind when it comes to education, healthcare, and what we've been talking about - maternity benefits. there's no reason for that - other than LAZINESS.

Fixed that one for ya to reflect reality!

Seriously, America is still the land of opportunity, if you can't get your crap together here and make a go of things, where on planet earth is going to be an easier life?

[QualiTcare]

first of all, don't change my quotes.

secondly, are you implying that the countries who have healthcare across the board and maternity/paternity leave, etc. are condoning LAZINESS?

you planned and saved up for maternity leave, huh?

yeah, you're right - america is the land of opportunity which is why we shouldn't have people that can't even afford to go to the doctor when other countries have proven there is a better, effective way that enables EVERYONE to go to the doctor - not just the upper/middle class.

i know americans like to think this is the best country on the planet (and maybe it is) but there's always room for improvement. no, i wouldn't mind paying a little bit more to make sure there aren't people out there dying because they have no health insurance. you know the ones who DON'T have insurance aren't the people who DON'T work -they are the ones who DO work. if you don't work, everything is given to you for free - free housing, food, healthcare, etc. maybe they should just quit their jobs and get welfare and free insurance. that's what america condones, and it's why we're in the state we're in.

if i had job where i couldn't afford insurance, and one of my kids got a terminal illness, u best believe i'd get a divorce and sign up for free insurance. in fact, there are people who do JUST that. there's more than one way to skin a cat. it'd just be nice if we did it the practical way like most other civilized countries.

ok, a little off topic, but it's the same concept - anyone who wants paid maternity leave can get it in america, i guess. just quit your job and go to your local welfare office. they'll pay you for as long as u wanna sit on your butt - no work history or future required. illegal immigrants can get food stamps and welfare, free education, etc. in a country where THAT is possible, i don't see anything far fetched about maternity/paternity benefits for people who DO work.

[Chickenhauler]

first of all, don't change my quotes.

lighten up, it's a joke

secondly, are you implying that the countries who have healthcare across the board and maternity/paternity leave, etc. are condoning LAZINESS?

You said "there's no reason for that - other than greed." in reference to why other nations are ahead of us in healthcare ( which is BS-if that were so, why does every other nations leaders come here to get their bodies fixed?) and education (which anyone who wants to go, can go to school here, the question is, do you want it badly enough to work for it?)

you planned and saved up for maternity leave, huh?

Yes, we did. I worked my butt off without a day off for over a month at a stretch, we saved, cut expenses where we could, and reduced non-essential spending (fun stuff/wants) and built up a nice cash nest egg.

I haven't turned the key on the semi in over a month, and our situation is just fine.

I know it's hard to believe, but a person can do anything if they really want to.

yeah, you're right - america is the land of opportunity which is why we shouldn't have people that can't even afford to go to the doctor when other countries have proven there is a better, effective way that enables EVERYONE to go to the doctor - not just the upper/middle class.

We do, and we already fund it. For those who are unable to afford medical insurance, there is Medicaid. I paid plenty into that fund last year.

There are many who say they can't afford health care, but then have things like cable, nice new cars, their kids wear $100 shoes, internet, etc. None of those things are free.

Priorities.

i know americans like to think this is the best country on the planet (and maybe it is) but there's always room for improvement. no, i wouldn't mind paying a little bit more to make sure there aren't people out there dying because they have no health insurance. you know the ones who DON'T have insurance aren't the people who DON'T work -they are the ones who DO work. if you don't work, everything is given to you for free - free housing, food, healthcare, etc. maybe they should just quit their jobs and get welfare and free insurance. that's what america condones, and it's why we're in the state we're in.

Then feel free to pay my 'share' out of your own pocket, I'm sick and tired of paying for everyone else and their uncle.

if i had job where i couldn't afford insurance, and one of my kids got a terminal illness, u best believe i'd get a divorce and sign up for free insurance. in fact, there are people who do JUST that. there's more than one way to skin a cat. it'd just be nice if we did it the practical way like most other civilized countries.

I'd have looked for a job with decent health care coverage long before that was an issue, or at minimum, bought a major medical policy for the kids to cover them just in case.

Health care isn't expensive, it's the caddilac plans that aren't cheap. High annual deductibles make a huge difference in premiums.

ok, a little off topic, but it's the same concept - anyone who wants paid maternity leave can get it in america, i guess. just quit your job and go to your local welfare office. they'll pay you for as long as u wanna sit on your butt - no work history or future required. illegal immigrants can get food stamps and welfare, free education, etc. in a country where THAT is possible, i don't see anything far fetched about maternity/paternity benefits for people who DO work.

There you go again, using drama and scare tactics while ignoring the fact that ANYONE can purchase a short term disability plan from a company like aflac for about the monthly cost of a dinner for two ($30).