Breastfeeding entitlement

ggg16

How are ye working this at second level? Time up to 2 years now.

Pearla

Can you provide any more information on this? I can't find any reference anywhere. In returning to work and BE ten month old. Would I be entitled to time to express etc?

Pearla

BF ten month old

Millem

It is to be covered by s and s.
No idea how it will work in reality......neither it seems do the leave department!
I am dreading trying to figure it out.
They told me no one really ever used it as it was up to 26 weeks!

rainbowtrout

A teacher I worked with a few years back availed of it. She chose to use the time to breastfeed her child/express. The child was with a local childminder who brought the baby up to the school car park and she went out to the car ... or something to that effect.


I think it worked out at half an hour per day and she used to take the half hour from the class running into lunchtime. To be honest, while I appreciate the legal requirements and breastfeeding being facilitated, it can be awkward in a school set up. The way her timetable panned out one of her classes was getting hit multiple times in the week as she had them during that class period several times a week. You're not going to get a sub in for half an hour per day, and if the teacher teaches a niche subject, it's not going to happen at all.

Not saying the teacher isn't entitled to it, but it appeared to be awkward all round.

Millem

It’s an hour a day
I can only imagine the headache it will be as S and S is it to used. I honestly don’t think we will have enough people to cover it if there are multiple breastfeeding teachers.
I am annoyed that we are put in a situation where if s and s is used we lose contact times with our class. On the other hand you do not want to end up with mastitis as it is horrendous and you will be out for a week.

Cash_Q

Millem wrote:

It’s an hour a day I can only imagine the headache it will be as S and S is it to used. I honestly don’t think we will have enough people to cover it if there are multiple breastfeeding teachers. I am annoyed that we are put in a situation where if s and s is used we lose contact times with our class. On the other hand you do not want to end up with mastitis as it is horrendous and you will be out for a week.

Are primary teachers entitled to this hour? We have no s&s...if I'm still BF when I go back to work it'll be great to avail of, but it'll be a logistical nightmare too..

Millem

Cash_Q wrote: »

Millem wrote:

It’s an hour a day I can only imagine the headache it will be as S and S is it to used. I honestly don’t think we will have enough people to cover it if there are multiple breastfeeding teachers. I am annoyed that we are put in a situation where if s and s is used we lose contact times with our class. On the other hand you do not want to end up with mastitis as it is horrendous and you will be out for a week.

Are primary teachers entitled to this hour? We have no s&s...if I'm still BF when I go back to work it'll be great to avail of, but it'll be a logistical nightmare too..

Yes asti, tui and into teachers.

Pearla

I was under the impression that it was only for 26 weeks after normal maternity. So wouldn't include babies over one year???

Millem

Pearla wrote: »

I was under the impression that it was only for 26 weeks after normal maternity. So wouldn't include babies over one year???

It has been extended to 104 weeks....2 years old.
You are meant to give 4 weeks notice to avail of it....so tell your principal now

Pearla

Oh wow! That's great! Don't know how it will work but great to know. Thanks so much 😊😊

Pearla

If anyone happens to have a link to this?? Cannot find anything and principal will want evidence!!

rainbowtrout

http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/birth_family_relationships/after_your_baby_is_born/breastfeeding.html

deiseindublin

The circular on it is supposed to be out in September so there's nothing in stone yet.

Millem

Pearla comtact your union they will write you a letter to show your principal with info. “Formal circular will follow in due course” apparently

Pearla

Great advice, thanks

Millem

Pearla wrote: »

Great advice, thanks

I was told that basically the original circular will just be amended to 104 weeks. If you look at leave section on department booklet......it says 1 hour a day.

Cash_Q

Rainbowtrout does it say somewhere on that citizens info link that it's up to particular age? The only timeframe I can see says it covers women who've given birth in the previous 6 months..I won't be back at work until the 6 months have passed..

Millem

Cash_Q wrote: »

Rainbowtrout does it say somewhere on that citizens info link that it's up to particular age? The only timeframe I can see says it covers women who've given birth in the previous 6 months..I won't be back at work until the 6 months have passed..

Cash q into, tui and asti got it extended as it has been the case for all civil service employees for years....since 2008.

Cash_Q

Millem wrote:

Cash q into, tui and asti got it extended as it has been the case for all civil service employees for years....since 2008.

Thanks...nothing on INTO App or web site though, would be great to have something concrete to refer to

Millem

Cash_Q wrote: »

Millem wrote:

Cash q into, tui and asti got it extended as it has been the case for all civil service employees for years....since 2008.

Thanks...nothing on INTO App or web site though, would be great to have something concrete to refer to

Cash_Q wrote: »

Millem wrote:

Cash q into, tui and asti got it extended as it has been the case for all civil service employees for years....since 2008.

Thanks...nothing on INTO App or web site though, would be great to have something concrete to refer to

There will be nothing on there till new circular is issued.
I have been contact with the union on this since May.
I think it was back in April it was announced at congress?
Why don’t you contact into so you can tell your principal?

judeboy101

Pearla wrote: »

If anyone happens to have a link to this?? Cannot find anything and principal will want evidence!!

Whip out a boob and ask him does he want some in his tea :-) lol but seriously, I had to produce birth certs to prove my baby was mine in order to take 2 weeks paternity leave. On another kid I missed the birth as baby came the week before the date I gave and as I didn't give the correct notice.

Pearla

😂😂 I may very well do this!!!

Millem

judeboy101 wrote: »

Pearla wrote: »

If anyone happens to have a link to this?? Cannot find anything and principal will want evidence!!

Whip out a boob and ask him does he want some in his tea :-) lol but seriously, I had to produce birth certs to prove my baby was mine in order to take 2 weeks paternity leave. On another kid I missed the birth as baby came the week before the date I gave and as I didn't give the correct notice.

You are right you need to provide birth cert and give 4 weeks notice.
I reckon we will need to sign a declaration to say we are breastfeeding and we will notify management when we stop.

deiseindublin

Horrible thing is that it probably will be abused. Some will claim they are breastfeeding to get an extra 5 hours off a week for 1.5 years and some poor eejit will be doing all of their S&S. Will be a nightmare for timetablers to implement.

On a plus note, I'd say it would be a great impetus to continue breastfeeding when you're going back to work and your head still isn't in the game. I know I would have grabbed it if I had the opportunity.

One other thing, I wonder does it actually mean an EXTRA hour off or does it mean that if you have a 50 minute lunch break, well then they have to make sure you get 10 extra minutes? You know what they say, if it sounds too good to be true, it usually is.

Millem

deiseindublin wrote: »

Horrible thing is that it probably will be abused. Some will claim they are breastfeeding to get an extra 5 hours off a week for 1.5 years and some poor eejit will be doing all of their S&S. Will be a nightmare for timetablers to implement.

On a plus note, I'd say it would be a great impetus to continue breastfeeding when you're going back to work and your head still isn't in the game. I know I would have grabbed it if I had the opportunity.

One other thing, I wonder does it actually mean an EXTRA hour off or does it mean that if you have a 50 minute lunch break, well then they have to make sure you get 10 extra minutes? You know what they say, if it sounds too good to be true, it usually is.

Totally agree re it being abused:(
We were actually talking about this at a breastfeeding meeting recently.

No it’s on top of lunch breaks. It’s an extra hour off tbh I had to pump for a week when my son was 9 months old and it took me 30 mins using a double pump that didn’t include cleaning my equipment or even having a drink or going to the toilet myself an hour is defo needed. I would say a mum with younger child would need more. It does say somewhere....at least one hour.....and more can be negotiated. The whole malarkey of setting up takes time. Also I found people might stop me to ask me something etc.

One day I had to wait 20 mins to find a room as usual space wasn’t available.
I can see this being an issue as schools are tight on spaces! I was using random offices......with paper over the glass and my back to the window! Then to store the milk it was a big palava......hiding it in the fridge!!!

The first few days I drove home to feed but other days there was not enough time so had to pump.

In other jobs you fill out a form and outline how you would like to take the breaks eg 2 x 30 mins or state if you would prefer to go home to feed etc.
I didn’t do this I just asked if I could avail of the breaks.......my poor principal!!

rainbowtrout

Millem wrote: »

Totally agree re it being abused:(
We were actually talking about this at a breastfeeding meeting recently.

I don't see why it would be abused. This entitlement existed before now only for a shorter period of time. In my 17 years teaching I've only ever known one teacher to use it.

I think breast feeding rates across the country are less than 25% at 6 months, so the majority of teachers are probably not breastfeeding on their return to work.

Do you honestly think women are going to return to work and skip off to a room for an hour a day and pretend to pump milk just so they don't have to teach??

Millem

rainbowtrout wrote: »

Millem wrote: »

Totally agree re it being abused:(
We were actually talking about this at a breastfeeding meeting recently.

Do you honestly think women are going to return to work and skip off to a room for an hour a day and pretend to pump milk just so they don't have to teach??

Yes I do 100%. I could write alot of things on it but I don’t even want to get into it here. It could ruin it for the people who are actually still breastfeeding.

It wasn’t abused before as it was rarely used as it was only up to baby was 26 weeks old. (at one stage it was even less I think?)
Very few teachers returned before baby was 26 weeks. Even if they did they would only have the entitlement up to when the baby reached 26 weeks.

Anyway it’s a great first step but I think it just needs to be implemented properly. I am hoping all will work out for me and I will manage as I am still feeding every 3 hours day and night
Hopefully after this year they will put something else in place that is not s and s!

ggg16

Can I please apologise for starting this thread and then disappearing. Work has been bananas and my little man stuck to me every other hour. Anyway, I have plagued my own union for updates. The Secretary told me they can't keep up with all the calls (success!) and are hoping to meet the other unions Friday week. Please contact your union. Don't leave this to others. If we don't put pressure on it won't happen. I'm not sure how this will work but anything is better than nothing. Doesn't really make a massive difference to me as my lad turns two in Feb but I'm future proofing. Best of luck all.

ggg16

Does anyone have a link to rates of feeding at different stages? Also...playing Devil's advocate here but if a mother was completely exhausted and used a bit of time to relax would it be a crime?! My principal is taking me off s and s and lunch/break for the year so no cover needed and I will 100% schedule in a coffee date during times I would have been covering. I'm still up once or twice a night and need some time for me. Not looking for a pity party but just being honest. Will also love knowing I'm off when I'm off too and can get a clear run at corrections.

ggg16

deiseindublin wrote: »

Horrible thing is that it probably will be abused. Some will claim they are breastfeeding to get an extra 5 hours off a week for 1.5 years and some poor eejit will be doing all of their S&S. Will be a nightmare for timetablers to implement.

On a plus note, I'd say it would be a great impetus to continue breastfeeding when you're going back to work and your head still isn't in the game. I know I would have grabbed it if I had the opportunity.

One other thing, I wonder does it actually mean an EXTRA hour off or does it mean that if you have a 50 minute lunch break, well then they have to make sure you get 10 extra minutes? You know what they say, if it sounds too good to be true, it usually is.

It's an actual hour to bring us in line with civil servants who have it years.

Pearla

I am hoping to talk to my principal this week. Do you think it could be used to finish one hour early in order to go and pick up baby early to feed? I've just finished my first full day and found it very uncomfortable not feeding all day. Have had mastitis in the past but work really not suitable for pumping

judeboy101

Is there actually a circular? Because I'd say a good few schools will say no unless a circular is present, unions or no unions.

Pearla

No circular and I'm reluctant to approach principal without one

rainbowtrout

Pearla wrote: »

I am hoping to talk to my principal this week. Do you think it could be used to finish one hour early in order to go and pick up baby early to feed? I've just finished my first full day and found it very uncomfortable not feeding all day. Have had mastitis in the past but work really not suitable for pumping

To be fair it’s to be used to feed/pump at work, not knock off work an hour early. You could be going anywhere and not feeding the baby.

It was mentioned in an earlier post on the thread that this entitlement will probably be abused and this is a perfect example of how that could be done.

Millem

Pearla would not be abusing it as she would be feeding baby offsite.
Abusing it would be claiming entitlement and not breastfeeding your child.
I have gottten clogged ducts when pumping. They are very painful and can lead to mastitis. You will be on antibiotics and sick leave for a week with mastitis.

As a breastfeeding mother there is no point telling me to pump at say 10 am and cover my class when I am not full as have fed the baby at 7.45.
Pearla please email your union they will send you official information for your principal.

I got a very good hse booklet off my phn where it had sample breastfeeding leave forms....it is common to leave to feed off site.

Pearla

Wow! That is a little harsh and precisely the reason I am reluctant to approach principal at all as I think I'll be viewed as just wanting to get off work rather than go feed my ten month old baby. Lot of that kind of attitude around. Didn't expect it here. I was hoping to drive to creche and sit outside in the car feeding. I cannot pump and cannot bring the baby into school to feed. I'm going to leave it at that as I find it difficult being criticised for wanting to feed baby. Thanks to everyone else for good advice. Good luck to everyone here trying to sort out time to breastfeed.

deiseindublin

@Pearla - you'll really have to wait and see how the circular is phrased. It may be an hour each day, or it may be an hour in the middle of the day.

Does anybody have a link to the public service circular, because I presume it will be identical.

rainbowtrout

Pearla wrote: »

Wow! That is a little harsh and precisely the reason I am reluctant to approach principal at all as I think I'll be viewed as just wanting to get off work rather than go feed my ten month old baby. Lot of that kind of attitude around. Didn't expect it here. I was hoping to drive to creche and sit outside in the car feeding. I cannot pump and cannot bring the baby into school to feed. I'm going to leave it at that as I find it difficult being criticised for wanting to feed baby. Thanks to everyone else for good advice. Good luck to everyone here trying to sort out time to breastfeed.

If you are only looking for one opinion you have come to the wrong place.

There isn’t ‘a lot of that attitude’ around. I am very much in favour of breastfeeding but if I was a principal and had a teacher coming to me asking to get off an hour early each day I would think they are pulling a fast one.

judeboy101

https://circulars.gov.ie/pdf/general-council/finance/2008/1506.pdf

joebloggs32

I was speaking to TUI hq last week about this. Until the circular is issued the old 26 week limit will apply. They reckoned the circular would issue by the rnd of september, but until then a principal would not have to grant any time to anyone with a child over 26 weeks.

Millem

joebloggs32 wrote: »

I was speaking to TUI hq last week about this. Until the circular is issued the old 26 week limit will apply.

Tui told me the same except it has come in now and I had to give my notice which I did. They issued a letter.
My principal has been very supportive so far and am meeting him this week to discuss.

joebloggs32

Millem wrote: »

Tui told me the same except it has come in now and I had to give my notice which I did. They issued a letter.
My principal has been very supportive so far and am meeting him this week to discuss.

Can you point me in the direction of the circular. I cant find it anywhere. One of my colleagues would definitely need this. TIA

Millem

joebloggs32 wrote: »

Can you point me in the direction of the circular. I cant find it anywhere. One of my colleagues would definitely need this. TIA

I do not have the circular as it has not been issued yet but that it is agreed.
As I have said before TUI will issue a letter to you for your principal saying it is now extended to 104 weeks and covered under s & s and that this letter is enough. Have you looked on voice for teachers?

Millem

Hi all,
How has everyone gotten on with the first full week? Did you get your breaks?
I have been taking them. Thankfully management very supportive. Using s & s as per circular.
Definitely needed the first day I actually thought I was going to pass out!!!
I am trying to only take them my long days....but same classes will get hit as avoiding exam years.
Circular still not out yet but I have had alot of contact with union. Apparently they have had lots of enquiries!

Cash_Q

Millem wrote:

Hi all, How has everyone gotten on with the first full week? Did you get your breaks? I have been taking them. Thankfully management very supportive. Using s & s as per circular. Definitely needed the first day I actually thought I was going to pass out!!! I am trying to only take them my long days....but same classes will get hit as avoiding exam years. Circular still not out yet but I have had alot of contact with union. Apparently they have had lots of enquiries!

What did you provide to Principal to prove entitlement? Just out of curiosity what time of day are you taking this break to pump/feed? I'm expecting my first baby so I have no idea how far I'll get and how many hours I'll need to go between feeding/pumping when baby is 6 months...

Pearla

Millem wrote: »

I do not have the circular as it has not been issued yet but that it is agreed.
As I have said before TUI will issue a letter to you for your principal saying it is now extended to 104 weeks and covered under s & s and that this letter is enough. Have you looked on voice for teachers?

Millem, if it has been agreed does that mean school principals should be aware of it? My union contact did not have any information. Very frustrating the lack of clarity around this.

Millem

Pearla wrote: »

Millem, if it has been agreed does that mean school principals should be aware of it? My union contact did not have any information. Very frustrating the lack of clarity around this.

Did you ring your union head office? Ring your area rep.
I am getting it....am so glad. Have suffered clogged duct early this week but thankfully unclogged after a day....our school closes half day every wedsnesday so fed alot wedsnesday afternoon to unclog.

I am finding it very stressful missing the classes and then the clogged duct and a student banging into me at lunch queue I thought I was going to pass out as chest was so painful.
Can’t say all colleagues are happy with me either
S and S cover is not ideal but that’s what has been agreed on circular so that’s what my school is doing.

Cashq my friend who is returning to government job (not school) has to produce a letter from GP every 3 months to state she is still breastfeeding. I have no problem with this I suggested PHN (as you still are in contact with developmental checks etc) either to TUI but I haven’t been asked for anything yet.

Cash_Q

Millem wrote:

Cashq my friend who is returning to government job (not school) has to produce a letter from GP every 3 months to state she is still breastfeeding. I have no problem with this I suggested PHN (as you still are in contact with developmental checks etc) either to TUI but I haven’t been asked for anything yet.

Thanks sorry I meant what proof from the Dept? Or Union? There's still nothing official published so how do you prove this is an entitlement now? I know the prinicpal will take me at my word if I'm still BF returning to work so that won't be an issue. The logistics of it are another thing though..

Millem

Cash_Q wrote: »

Thanks sorry I meant what proof from the Dept? Or Union? There's still nothing official published so how do you prove this is an entitlement now? I know the prinicpal will take me at my word if I'm still BF returning to work so that won't be an issue. The logistics of it are another thing though..

It won’t be up to principal to believe or not if Department ask you for a letter you need to provide one for your file.

As I said before union issued a letter.

Don’t even think about it! It is meant to be out at the lastest end of September!
You could still be pregnant;)

Cash_Q

Millem wrote:

As I said before union issued a letter.

Sorry missed that, yes I'll follow up with them. Sure feeding might not even work out but sure good to know the info