Pressured to reduce number of feeds

August 2024

Aisha* worked as an early childhood educator. When she started her job, she had an agreement that she could enrol her own child at the centre and breastfeed as needed. A few weeks later, staff began to make complaints about her breastfeeding times and the centre director pressured Aisha to reduce the number of feeds per day. 

Aisha lodged a complaint with ADNSW. 

ADNSW investigated the complaint by gathering information from each party.

Aisha said she was told to enrol her child at one of the centre’s other facilities. She said she was made to feel like she had to choose between breastfeeding her child and her employment. Aisha felt she had been constructively dismissed and sent her employer a resignation letter to this effect, which was accepted by the employer.

The employer disagreed that it had constructively dismissed Aisha. The employer said it had been trying to work with Aisha to manage her breastfeeding needs when she decided to resign.  

ADNSW held a conciliation conference. Aisha said she did not wish to return to work for her employer. The complaint was resolved when Aisha accepted a statement of regret and a payment of general damages.

* Name has been changed to protect the privacy of the individual