I think they drank my BM...

[Jennifer13]

FWIW it would be against the law to knowingly make a joke about this in your workplace (for those who mentioned the law). It does fall under our sexual harassment laws. Not that you'd necessarily go to court over it, and I suspect most companies would be in a great big hurry to rectify the situation if it was brought to the attention of the HR and legal depts.

[TeniBear]

Remember, we don't know for sure what happened

[Rouge]

Oh please don't think I was saying in anyway that just because that's what it's like we lie down and take it. I was trying to say I understood where the poster was coming from. And TBH if I didn't have my place of employers backing if I went further about this, I'd seek alternative employment. But if there are laws now to support it, then awesome. Either way I would ruffle feathers. I just got from the other poster that she was saying "this could happen" not sit back and do nothing... or "this is your fault". I think we need to be careful with discussions like this we don't focus on things that aren't really part of the bigger picture. I am passionate about this too, but it's good to hear everyone's input. Just my 2c.

Great advice Jen x

[Just Me]

Oh please don't think I was saying in anyway that just because that's what it's like we lie down and take it. I was trying to say I understood where the poster was coming from. And TBH if I didn't have my place of employers backing if I went further about this, I'd seek alternative employment. But if there are laws now to support it, then awesome. Either way I would ruffle feathers. I just got from the other poster that she was saying "this could happen" not sit back and do nothing... or "this is your fault". I think we need to be careful with discussions like this we don't focus on things that aren't really part of the bigger picture. I am passionate about this too, but it's good to hear everyone's input. Just my 2c.

Great advice Jen x

I didn't think that at all

It is hard in discussions like this because I don't want to seem like I was picking on one person (sorry Kmn if you felt this way ) so I was trying to explain why I was pushing the issue so much. Probably didn't explain myself very well though.

[Kmn]

I didn't feel picked on - just frustrated that little blocks of text are so crap at explaining!

[Just Me]

I didn't feel picked on - just frustrated that little blocks of text are so crap at explaining!

Ha ha, I think we all have that problem

[Onelittleprincess]

I understand you not wanting to 'rock the boat', I don't like confrontation either. However, even if you choose not to complain, I would still inform management so they can't play dumb. Bring to their attention that you haven't asked for special treatment - even if those rights are protected by law - and you've pumped in your own time. Let them know that you will now be labelling it and keeping it in a wetbag or whatever, and most of all tell them WHY you're doing this now. I would probably get a copy of your rights re: pumping at work and email it across to them as well, just to let them know that you know what they're supposed to be doing.
:

I agree. A simple message to hr saying on this date u expressed milk and placed in the fridge at such site. You came back at end of shift to discover it missing and some members of staff commented how it was put in coffee as a joke. And ask them to advise all members on that site for that day from both companies that this occurred cause while you may be free of anything that could be contracted you would hate if someone became I'll from drinking it.

If you don't want it to go further explain it to the hr person. If you report it they can act on it. That way if it happens again to you or someone else it has been documented originally

[trishalishous]

Id be peeved, especially if stolen on purpose!
thumbs up for expressing, I know how draining it is!

[Taurean]

That's hilarious BUT I would also be so peeved!! I struggled with expressing and know how valuable 200mls is!! The only thing that would keep me grounded though was knowing that men (most men anyway) just don't understand the value of EBM so there wouldn't be much point getting upset with them.

ETA: just read some of the other posts and while I agree with a lot of what has been said, I'm staying out of the serious side to this thread.

[HotI]

HAHAH my DH just said it should have a sign that said
Who is the bloody idiot that drank the bull semen I had in the baby bottle

I'm pretty sure that would shut them right up :-P

Perfect!

[Floweryfields]

Perhaps the mature way of handling this would be to simply talk to the guys involved about how you are feeling. First suss out what happened and then let them know how it made you feel. I would think that would earn you a whole lot more respect in a workplace than just making complaints about harrassment.

[nickle730]

Lol... the bull semen made me giggle!

I did speak to the guys, and I did make it clear that I was displeased and also told them that I didn't know what I was going to feed my baby now that her milk had been taken. They looked a bit sheepish and stared at their feet.

No one directly claimed responsibility for taking the milk and it was 'suggested' that it had been used for coffee, but no one confirmed that this is what had happened. There was a lot of giggling going on. No one piped up and said they had done anything else with the milk either, such as cleaned out the fridge.

I did consider that someone might be annoyed at me putting my 'yukky' BM in the fridge and tipped it out, this is why I placed it on the bottom shelf, right at the back and away from any food. But if you thought it was gross, you wouldn't tip it out and clean the bottle would you? You might just throw the whole thing out and walk away, but I can't imagine a bloke who thought it was gross handling the milk?

I don't think I want to take the matter any further. I know it might seem cowardly, but having worked for this organisation for 12 years I really do believe that it is in my own best interests on this occasion to let the matter rest. I am confident that the blokes who did waste my milk (one way or another) did not intend to harass or upset me. If the intention had been cruel I would come out fighting, but they did something stupid, I made my displeasure clear and I am pretty confident they wouldn't do it again. I can't get the milk back and the only outcome I would want from any action would be the confidence that the blokes realise it was a dumb thing to do and they won't do it again, to me or any other female.

Thank you all for your responses. The discussion itself is really interesting!

[RhiChiChi]

I have been reading this on the way to work (on the train) and I agree with alot of what op have said, however I would probably take the exact stance you are (as your above post). If it were to happen again, then I would make a point of reporting it via the appropriate avenues. From what you have posted, I agree I don't think it was a malice act directed at yourself, more a practical joke to other employees that wasn't well thought out / didn't realise the consequence of their actions.

[PumpkinZulu]

I agree, the discussion is great. I hope they never, ever do anything like that again

[aussienic]

I personally would be really annoyed they wasted my Bm.

on the other hand its a little funny about the joke they played but unfort at your expense for not having that milk

[~Raven~]

I guess there is a chance that someone thought it might have been off and chucked it because of the way EBM can separate in the fridge and look a bit yellow. That was my first thoughts after sharing a fridge in a busy workplace. Someone will have a brain snap every few weeks and throw all the old food out.
But then the sheepish looks though suggest otherwise. What a shame that these immature prats caused inconvenience for you and your baby

[skybie]

i think u should sit the culprits down for an hour and strap a breast pump to them, then throw out their lunches to teach them a lesson.
inconsiderate so and so's. i'd be devastated!

[BlackRose]

You just need to be careful here - there is probably an OHSE policy which requires human milk to be labelled and you may actually end up being the one in the pooh.

Yeah, I agree.. Maybe label for next time and buy a cooler bag or something so that there is no chance of the milk being touched. Otherwise, do you have a freezer at work you could use?