Could this woman get a job in your office?

[anonymous_saver]

Yes, she could easily work in my office. I work at a very large University and I don't see anything she is wearing as an issue at all!

[FrugalFish]

Not to go off subject, but what possible reason would anyone do this. I presume that if you're lactating you should have plenty of warm "baby milk" readily available

Your supply starts to dwindle if you don't keep it moving throughout the day- I'd guess that's why she's pumping at work. I find the fact that it's spilled in the fridge pretty gross. I believe AIDS is transmittable through breast milk- however unlikely it is that you're actually going to contact it in a fashion that puts you at risk. Still, it's gross for baby and coworkers that she's so careless with it. I wonder if this could constitute a biohazard complaint.

[tzsgti]

If someone fits the credentials and is capable of doing the job then looks should not determine if she is qualified or if they should hire her. Now if its a job where it requires a presentable appearance like sales then maybe she doesn't fit the criteria. They can also make her wear a suit if she had to go to meetings with a client or somebody important.

[GREENBACK]

Your supply starts to dwindle if you don't keep it moving throughout the day- I'd guess that's why she's pumping at work. I find the fact that it's spilled in the fridge pretty gross. I believe AIDS is transmittable through breast milk- however unlikely it is that you're actually going to contact it in a fashion that puts you at risk. Still, it's gross for baby and coworkers that she's so careless with it. I wonder if this could constitute a biohazard complaint.

I see; makes sense. I would think that keeping that tightly covered and well marked would be a priority. I haven't worked in an office setting in more than 20 years but I would complain like crazy if there was spilled human anything in the refrigerator.

[disneysteve]

Now if its a job where it requires a presentable appearance like sales then maybe she doesn't fit the criteria.

I think ANY job that involves contact with the public would fit this criteria whether it is sales/retail, any type of office where clients come in (medical practice, law office, etc.), food service. I think dress/appearance codes are far too lax most places today. Purple hair, nose rings and tattoos might be okay at some punk rock bar but not much of anywhere else.

[whitestripe]

i think people need to have a think about WHY certain things are acceptable and why others aren't. WHO makes these decisions, and how is it that their decision over rides another portion of society?

yes, a 'smart' suit and tie is 'acceptable'. what if her leggings and t shirt were new, clean and freshly ironed?

hair that is pedestrian is also deemed as acceptable - is this because people think someone who has a 'normal' hair cut put more time into their haircare and appearance? because i can safely say that dreadlocks take a lot of work.

tattoos - they are a personal choice. you may choose not to have them, others choose to have them. it's like a car or high heels - you can choose to have a car, or you can choose to not have a car - ride public transport or ride a bike. you can choose to wear flats or you can choose to wear boots or high heels. it is a personal decision (BTW - for all you trolls out there, i am not making a flippant remark about a tattoo being likened to a pair of shoes - i am merely illustrating that there is a personal choice involved and it involves no one else except the person making the choice.) .
i personally have a couple of tattoos - i have friends that do too, some who work with the public, some who don't. some are highly respected in their fields, some are well established and high earners .

i guess it comes down to the opinions and judgements made by the other people. the way YOU react to the way a person looks is in your power, it is your responsibility. so keep that in mind and try to be a little more accepting.

[anonymous_saver]

I think there are so many more important things in life than if someone has a piercing, or "punky" hair, or tattoos. I see it as fairly close minded to even care what someone visually looks like. I mean I couldn't care less if you sat next to me at work with khakis and a polo, or if you had orange hair and 30 piercings. Heck, I couldn't care less if you had all of the above!

I think a lot of it is about stereotypes that people have about people that have "alternative" looks. Just because someone looks different doesn't mean they aren't clean, smart, etc. I know that's not how everyone feels, but there are those that think that way, and I don't think it's fair. Similarily there of course stereotypes about people who have suits and ties, and more conservative looks as well. And that also doesn't tell much if anything about who the person is. You could be dressed in a suit and tie, and be much less responsible than a person who is dressed "differently".

Ugh I hate stereotypes.

[boosami]

I've worked at companies with very professionally strict dress codes, and companies with lax ones. Both extremes here: from a formal suit every day to literally no dress code other than you cannot come to work "fully" nude (seriously, it's written like that in the employee handbook).

Just as it is up to the job seeker to decide if they want to work at a certain company, it is up to the company to decide if that person is a fit for them. Dress codes are completely legal for companies to have, and part of working at that company is agreeing to follow that dress code. Don't like it? Then you can't work there.

Where I work now, I am sure she would be considered as a hire if qualified. However, she would be told she will have to conform to our dress code, business casual, and her piercings other than her ears would have to be removed during the day.

Personally, I don't care how someone looks and I try not to judge solely based on that. I like to wear shorts in the summer, but I understand I have to make that sacrifice during the work day and wear slacks. If I refused to take a job on that fact, I would hope someone would be concerned about my mental health! Just as you shouldn't judge solely based on how a person appears, you shouldn't define yourself solely based on your appearance.

[EEinNJ]

My personal reaction is ewww... skanky. To each their own. In terms of employment, when looking for a job your appearance is part of how you sell yourself. If the job calls for someone who's a free spirit, hip, etc. I guess piercings, tattoos, and dreads are OK. In professional fields (law, medicine, engineering) or conservative industries (banking, pharmaceutical) someone who looked like that would not fit in and wouldn't get hired.

In my office she would not get hired. We're all white males, kind of a preserve for an endangered species

[hmd2009]

I would of hired her to work in my office in a heart beat, if she were qualified to work in the IT field. I could give a sh!t less what she looks like. I've worked with a few men who wore khaki's and polo's every day, and then wore the same ones the next day, and then began to smell. Yeah, you can be clean and dress with your own sense of fashion. To equate it with being unclean is ridiculous.

As for the breast milk conversation, as someone who is pro breastfeeding, and who has pumped breast milk for 5 months for twins, I see no problem with her storing her breast milk in the office fridge. Where else will she store it? For anyone's information, a lactating woman needs to be constantly expressing her milk so her supply doesn't dry up. I was pumping every 2-3 hours. As for it being uncovered, yes, that is gross, and a health hazard to her baby, but I have no idea why she would do that, all of the kits come with lids, personally I pumped and then dumped it into bags then put it in the fridge. I've put it in many fridges and no one has cared. Seriously, it's just breast milk.

[wincrasher]

I'm very torn on this issue.

First - there is no way I'd hire this lady. But I'm an obsolete, misogynistic, bigotted dinosaur, so take my opinion for what it is.

Secondly - our society seems to becoming more casual every day and is that a good thing? Nothing is special. Hardly anyone dresses up for anything - it's not unheard of to see t-shirts and jeans at funeral, weddings and church!

Back about 15 years ago I worked in an engineering office and we started "casual fridays". This was in an office that was still wearing coat and tie Monday-Thursday. First friday was slacks and dress shirt, no tie, shinny shoes. Next friday was polos, slacks and loafers. Next friday it was polo, jeans and sneakers. After that you'd see t-shirts, cut-offs and flip flops. I truly hate flip flops. Keep your country toes covered people!

You give an inch, people take a mile. And you can't put the genie back in the bottle.

If your culture is one of tribes and mysticism, then by all means get your tatoos and piercings. Grow your hair out and have your animal sacrifices. But please, all you suburban white kids, enough of this already. Cover that crap up and put my burger in the bag!

For all you lactating ladies out there - we appreaciate your plight. Don't mind oggling your ample bosom - it really makes the office environment more interesting. But please, we do ask that you keep those babies holstered while in the conference room or hallway. Put your milk in a CLEARLY marked container. The coffee is really bad enough on it's own without contributing your own special flavor to it.

[Radiance]

Not to go off subject, but what possible reason would anyone do this. I presume that if you're lactating you should have plenty of warm "baby milk" readily available

If you are lactating you need, just as cows, to pump it out regularly, with humans is even worse, I had to do it every 2-3 hours.

Now, one need to be concious, no need to give people more reasons not to support breastfeeding moms, I stored my milky on the office fridge, what other option did I have? but on a very nice cooler, noone knew, other than close friend co-workers, what was in there. I bet most assume it was my lunch.

What did happen is that co-workers would see me walking with my "lunch box" every 2-3 hours and that was 'weird' Some asked, I just smiled and didn't answer.

The most difficult part was to wash bottles and other containers...again, some would ask, what is that? I would just smile and say nothing.

I did this for 6 months until my little guy was 8 months old. The pressuresof work plus other health problems lead me to stop.

Breastfeeding, yes, that is the correct word, is a beautiful thing. We, "lactating moms" need to be mindful of how such a natural thing makes people think about puking. Well, birthing does the same to most people as well, so I should not be surprised.

If she left the milky uncovered, that is not safe for the milk, and there is no need to leave it visible. Walmart sells very frugal lunch boxes.

As many other moms I can tell you that my son NEVER got sick, not even a cold during the 8 months I breastfed him. It is a marvelous thing.

Lost of blessing.
Me

[wincrasher]

and don't forget that the poopy doesn't stink much if they are breastfeeding.

[GREENBACK]

If you are lactating you need, just as cows, to pump it out regularly, with humans is even worse, I had to do it every 2-3 hours.

Now, one need to be concious, no need to give people more reasons not to support breastfeeding moms, I stored my milky on the office fridge, what other option did I have? but on a very nice cooler, noone knew, other than close friend co-workers, what was in there. I bet most assume it was my lunch.

What did happen is that co-workers would see me walking with my "lunch box" every 2-3 hours and that was 'weird' Some asked, I just smiled and didn't answer.

The most difficult part was to wash bottles and other containers...again, some would ask, what is that? I would just smile and say nothing.

I did this for 6 months until my little guy was 8 months old. The pressuresof work plus other health problems lead me to stop.

Breastfeeding, yes, that is the correct word, is a beautiful thing. We, "lactating moms" need to be mindful of how such a natural thing makes people think about puking. Well, birthing does the same to most people as well, so I should not be surprised.

If she left the milky uncovered, that is not safe for the milk, and there is no need to leave it visible. Walmart sells very frugal lunch boxes.

As many other moms I can tell you that my son NEVER got sick, not even a cold during the 8 months I breastfed him. It is a marvelous thing.

Lost of blessing.
Me

I guess I knew this answer but it struck me as strange since I haven't worked in a office setting in a very long time and don't remember breast milk in the fridge then, despite many females with young children.

[cptacek]

No, she couldn't. Our office makes us wear shirts with the company name on them, and that shirt doesn't have it .