A co-worker breast feeds in public in my office (we are a baby-friendly workplace). Several male co-workers make demeaning comments and are noticeably uncomfortable. I want to say something...but how can I tactfully tell them to grow up?
2007-02-06 08:55:40 · 15 answers · asked by meg-ron 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Etiquette
To the person who suggested these women should go to the bathroom, why? would you want to eat in a bathroom? the often smell bad, have nowhere to sit, and are unheigenic.
your co-workers are very immature. i dont think you need to be tactful. after all, are they being tactful when they make demeaning comments to these women? these women are trying to do the best thing for their babies, and these men need to grow up.
2007-02-06 10:05:04 · answer #1 · answered by Minerva 5 · 3⤊ 1⤋
How in the world can they be uncomfortable? Sorry, I just don't see that! And there is nothing disgusting about it. It is the nature of a mother. They/you obviously must not be married or have children of their/you're own. And if they/you do or not you it is being very narrow minded by thinking the way they/you do.
I am sure that since it is a baby-friendly workplace that there are restrictions and guidelines that are followed as far as breastfeeding is concerned. I am sure they do not parade around the office with their breast hanging out or with a baby hanging on it.
Your co-workers that are making the rude comments and are appearing to be uncomfortable need to do just what you said "grow-up"! There is no reason why you need to be tactful when they are being so rude in the first place.
2007-02-06 09:05:18 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 7⤊ 2⤋
Is your co-worker uncomfortable with the comments too, or does she just laugh them off? I've never been in exactly this situation but I have been bullied (waybackwhen at school) and what worked best was ignoring it, they got tired of it when they noticed their comments and jokes had no effect. Any time when a well-meaning teacher or parent tried to interfere it only got worse!
2007-02-08 00:18:44 · answer #3 · answered by Sheriam 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The last few places I have worked have a lactation room. So although I agree that breastfeeding is perfectly natural, it made the issue moot. [By the way, I am male.]
If people are uncomfortable about this, tell them to go to HR. HR will undoubtedly tell them to stop harassing or being discriminatory. In this way it takes the onus off of you.
2007-02-06 11:15:10 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
Go to the HR and let them know. They will deal with the problem.
To those of you who think the baby should be fed in a bathroom: will you eat in the bathroom? If you are uncomfortable with a feeding baby, YOU can go somewhere. There is something wrong with YOU if you see a feeding baby as "distracting". Bathrooms are unhygienic and a mother should not feed the baby there.
If the mother is not discreet and doesn't cover herself, let the mother also know that she should cover up.
2007-02-06 09:35:02 · answer #5 · answered by strongblackcoffee 2 · 3⤊ 1⤋
Are the mothers covering up? If so then the men are acting like little children and you should just come out and tell them to grow up. If you don't want to, go to your HR office and tell them what is going on & let them handle it.
2007-02-06 09:25:26 · answer #6 · answered by Julia B 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I am a social worker. Most of my clients are female.
Some of them will breastfeed while we are conferring.
I'm a male. It's a natural thing. Your male coworkers are ignorent.
Tell them to GROW THE **** UP.That is the only way to say it.
Show them this email if you want.
2007-02-06 09:17:59 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 1⤋
This seems like a form of harassment to me. I would say that you should express to your coworkers that you don't like that talk and you would like it to stop. Then, if necessary, report it to HR or the supervisor.
2007-02-06 10:56:58 · answer #8 · answered by drshorty 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Is she at least using a blanket?? Because if not that can be a very uncomfortable situation..I've dealt with it with my customers and I hate it when they breast feed at tables...It something that needs to be done in privacy
2007-02-06 12:31:30 · answer #9 · answered by giggles for breakfast :) 2 · 0⤊ 3⤋
Well , tell the biitch to cover up, no one wants to see something that sags, now if I were them, I'd take trip to HR and file a compliant against the bimbo. But, if the hag is covering her tit up, then its fine. But, freedom of speech dear!
2007-02-06 12:37:08 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 4⤋