Police Officer Told to ‘Wrap Those Boobs Up’ While Breastfeeding Wins Lawsuit

A former Tuscaloosa police officer has won her discrimination case against the state police department, PEOPLE reports. The case claimed that the police department demoted her and refused to find proper breastfeeding accommodations. Read on below to find out more details surrounding the case.

Share your thoughts on the lawsuit in the comments section! 

 

Police officer told to… A former Tuscaloosa cop won her discrimination case against the state police department, PEOPLE reports. The case claimed that the police department demoted her and refused to find proper breastfeeding accommodations when she returned to work from pregnancy leave.

Police officer told to… Stephanie Hicks initially filed the lawsuit four years ago, in 2013. Then, last year, a federal jury ruled in her favor, agreeing that the police department violated the Pregnancy Discrimination Act.

Police officer told to… However, the city appealed the ruling. Nonetheless, the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ended up upholding the verdict last Thursday, PEOPLE reports.

Police officer told to… Hicks began her career in the force in 2008. And up until she left for maternity leave in 2012 for the birth of her first child, she had amazing reviews. But that all changed when she returned.

Police officer told to… When Hicks returned from maternity leave — exactly three months later — she was forced to pump in the locker room of the station. This, of course, was not ideal for the new mother.

Police officer told to… “Pumping in the locker room was awful,” Hicks told AL.com. “Sitting there by the shower stall, where the dispatchers and the public could walk in. Somebody was always asking what I was doing.”

Police officer told to… Federal law requires employers to guarantee women with a break to pump. In addition, the law requires employers to provide “a place, other than a bathroom, that is shielded from view and free from intrusion from coworkers and the public.”

Police officer told to… According to Hicks, the police department refused to find another location besides the locker room. But things apparently didn’t just end there: Hicks’ work situation somehow got more uncomfortable.

Police officer told to… Apparently, Hicks’ co-workers would comment to her about her breastfeeding with ignorant remarks. Per People: “Then, when she would head downstairs to pump, she would often get a call on her radio from her coworkers telling her to ‘wrap those boobs up’ and get back to work.”

Police officer told to… Prior to her maternity leave, Hicks was an investigator in the narcotics division, PEOPLE reports. Later on, she was transferred to the less-hazardous pharmaceutical unit for the duration of her pregnancy.

Police officer told to… When Hicks returned from her pregnancy leave, PEOPLE reports, she received several write-ups for minor infractions. She was also demoted from an investigator to the patrol unit, which not only left her with a lower salary, but no car and a requirement to work on nights and weekends.

Police officer told to… What are your thoughts on the matter? Do you think the police department discriminated against Hicks? Sound off in the comments section and tell all!

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