Women who bare their breasts in the workplace for the purpose of feeding their babies would be protected under new legislation co-sponsored by Assemblywomen Joan Quigley (D-32nd Dist) and Loretta Weinberg (D-37th Dist).
The legislation would expand civil rights protection to keep an employer from firing or otherwise discriminating against a woman based on pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, or because the woman breast-fed or expressed her milk during work breaks.
“Pregnant or breast-feeding women shouldn’t have to worry about being discriminated against at work” Weinberg said. “At a time when two-salary households are increasing, employers must be more sensitive to the needs of working moms.”
The bill requires employers to provide reasonable periods of time each day for women employees to express breast milk for the children they are nursing. They must also try to provide a private place for women to do so if possible.
Since numerous studies show that breast milk can provide children with numerous health and psychological benefits during the first year of life, more states are providing protection for women who opt to breastfeed children at work, or remove and save breast milk for their child later. Although protected under some federal legislation, many women had apparently been discriminated against for the practice or prevented from doing so while at work.
“Breast-feeding is a natural part of motherhood that’s misunderstood in our society,” Quigley said. “Women should not be fired or discriminated against for expressing breast milk during their own lunch or break time.”
A similar bill was introduced into the U.S. House of Representatives by Rep. Carlyn B. Maloney (D-New York) that would prevent discrimination against women who choose to pump break milk or breast feed while on break at work.
“The infant isn’t the only one who benefits from breast-feeding,” said Weinberg. “Employers also benefits because healthier babies mean fewer parental absences and lower health care costs.”
Under this legislation, an employer who violates the provision of the bill would face fines of at least $500 for the first violation, $750 for the second, and $1,000 for the third and each subsequent violation. The penalty would be paid to the municipalities in which the infraction occurred.
Quigley’s jury duty exemption bill passed
In mid-June, the state Assembly approved legislation sponsored by Assemblywomen Quigley and Linda Greenstein (D-14th Dist.) that would provide jury duty exemption for parents and legal guardians who are unable to obtain supervision for their children.
The bill would apply to parents of children who are not in a child-care or school program that operates during the normal business hours of jury service.
Under current law, parents are excused from jury duty if the child is ill or an absence poses a severe financial hardship.