When
Lisette Paulson, a full-time employee at Tidal Music and new mother, asked her boss, COO Desiree Perez, about getting a nanny for her then-4-month-old child while she was at work, she was delighted to hear her response.
"Don't worry, we'll take care of you." They took care of her, alright. They fired her shortly afterward. Paulson says that she had asked Ms. Perez for a room where she could pump privately. Ms. Perez first, offered the bathroom, when that was rejected she tried to shame her into not pumping at all by asking if she "had to do this."
Soon after, she was fired, and now Lisette Paulson is taking Tidal and Roc Nation to court.But it didn't have to be this way for the two entertainment platforms. Tidal Music and Roc Nation were both founded by Shawn Carter, better known by his stage name, Jay-Z.
Jay-Z's wife, the inimitable singer Beyonce, is a mother herself who has spoken publicly about breastfeeding her two twins even though she found it "challenging." You'd think Jay-Z would appreciate challenges new mothers face and do his best to accommodate.
Beyonce may have found breastfeeding challenging, but what might be even more challenging, is trying to breastfeed or pump at work under the constant threat of being fired.
Jay-Z and his companies Tidal Music and Roc Nation should guarantee breastfeeding accommodations for their employees. Not doing so is not only hypocritical but wrong.
Tell Tidal Music and Roc Nation to get with the times. Sign and demand that they provide lactation rooms for their staff.
Photo Credit: dailycloudt
