By Wubba87 - 27/06/2012 10:32 - United Kingdom - Liverpool

Today, I had to have a long and awkward meeting with my boss. It wouldn't have been too awkward though, if I didn't have to avoid staring at her exposed breast whilst she fed her 8 week old baby. FML
I agree, your life sucks 26 648
You deserved it 5 200

Wubba87 tells us more.

Wubba87 12

Wow, didn't realise this would get so much attention so quickly. Thanks guys! Not suprised that this has stirred a debate on breast feeding as a whole though... To clarify, my boss has recently had a child (duh!) and has therefore been on maternity leave. This is the first time she's come back to work. I actually work in a research lab, and so my boss gathered myself and a few of my coworkers (a doctor and a PhD student) together in an office to discuss the progress of our research since she's been absent. I didn't mind having the meeting, I didn't mind that the kid was there too, and I definitley didn't mind her having to feed the child (nor do I ever mind when any woman has to do this, but especially in this case because she asked us all if it was OK to feed her before doing anything). But I have never had to work so hard on maintaining eye contact in my life! Awkward!

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Top comments

Comments

Empleh 4

Lawsuit waiting to happen there. While there is no law that forbids her from doing that in the workplace. It is very unprofessial for her to do it in front of an employee, and this might be borderline sexual harressment.

4 4
LennyComa 39

In the UK a woman can legally breastfeed in any place they choose. Whilst it is unprofessional to breastfeed during a meeting, no Judge or Jury would ever convict a breastfeeding mother in the UK.

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monnanon 13

There is nothing sexual about a baby feeding therefore it is nowhere near sexual harrasment.

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netdemon 11

You are all a bunch of insufferable prudes. It happens. Most new mothers breast feed their kids. Get over it. Last I checked, she can legally walk around town with "herself" hanging out and there's nothing anybody can do. The only reason that women don't is because of prudes like you people. My wife will be having a baby in the next few months and i would personally be upset if our child went hungry because of a coworker that's uncomfortable around boobs.

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alycion 38

Nothing prudish about expecting some professionalism in the work place. Use a pump, cover up, or excuse yourself from a meeting. Baby eats. Everyone wins. I'm sick of double standards being thrown around in the work place for parents. Even people without kids have situations that need to be tended to but we are expected to deal with it professionally. Why shouldn't the same be expected of a mother? I've had coworkers who had to excuse themselves to the restroom because of where they needed to give themself an insulin shot. That's just as important as feeding a baby but nobody wanted to see him drop his pants in the middle of a meeting.

13 3
Dracoboxer357 35

^117- I agree with you for the most part. My boys were breast fed and when we went out in public, they didn't have to go hungry; we just discreetly set up my wife's feeding cover, and baby went under for lunch. No big deal....at least, for us. Some assholes still couldnt stand the idea that they Knew a baby was being fed under that sheet, and They made a little scene of it, not us. I told them to grow up and get lost, don't like it, don't come over and attract even more attention to it then. Just carry on. (One guy at a restaurant even confronted my wife saying that our suckling baby was interfering with his meal because it's so disgusting, and We should go feed him in the toilet stall. My wife told him if he thinks it's such a great place, he can go eat his supper there, **** off. Some people truly amaze me.)

8 4
Vivera2 6

While there is nothing legally wrong with breastfeeding in public, i will agree it is a bit "unprofessional" to do it during a meting.

5 0
tj4234 35

depending on what company it is, it may actually be part of their company policy here in the UK to promote breast feeding in the UK. McDonalds is a company that has that policy (for example). But anyway OP. You didn't have to look. Hard as it may have been not too.

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tj4234 35

just noticed the terrible grammar in my first sentence. Sorry internet :(.

1 0
TheyCallMeDamien 17

Should've asked did she mind if you got a picture.

1 3
spottyblanket 8

It does happen, but I think it was rude for the boss to do it during the meeting

1 0
pexy_fml 16

And this is suppose to be a bad thing

4 0
Dracoboxer357 35

News flash, Op: Boobs feed babies. I would think if you were uncomfortable, you could have requested having the meeting at a later time, but I think it's unacceptable to make an infant go hungry for your convenience. If I were that boss, I would have held your meeting After I fed my child, but it's also not something that bothers me, so life goes on. :p

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Dracoboxer357 35

^ Sorry, the point I was trying to make was, if You are uncomfortable, you have the right to Say so. It's not too hard to say "I'm sorry, I'm a little uncomfortable right now, would you mind if we continued this meeting later, please?" Easy, polite, respectful, and professional. No problem.

6 0
CRC_101 31

It's not completely inappropriate, but being busy with anything aside from work during a business meeting is rather unprofessional. Not only that, but setting aside half an hour to spend time with her baby and breastfeed seems more healthy for the mother's relationship with her baby, and I would think her work might be able to accomodate that. Still, there are some days when things aren't going to go as planned. She's only had this new infant for two months - try to be understanding, OP. Avoiding staring at exposed mothers' breasts during breastfeeding is something a person will most likely need to get used to, since it isn't very uncommon in public nowadays. =)

5 4