Breastfeeding in the Workplace
If you live in California, then you should not be stressed on how you will be able to breastfeed your baby after the pregnancy leave. Just like other states, the state of California allows breastfeeding in the workplace. The laws in California require employers to provide breastfeeding breaks. This makes it easy for you to continue breastfeeding your baby even after the pregnancy break.
Lactation Breaks under Federal Law
Under Obama act in 2010, the federal laws where amended to allow breastfeeding in workplaces. The law requires employers to offer lactating mother’s reasonable breaks for them to express breast milk. The law requires the employers to offer unpaid leaves up to one year so that new mothers can breastfeed their babies. If the employer has more than 50 employees, he will be required to have a private space which is not in the bathroom. The place should be private enough for the employees to easily breastfeed their babies.
Lactation Breaks under California Law
In 1998, the legislators in California passed laws which allow employers to provide breastfeeding breaks. The law in California makes it mandatory for employers to provide facilities where the employees will express milk and nurse their babies. The employees are required to provide breaks for the purpose of breastfeeding as well as providing accommodation facilities for the nursing mothers.
Covered Employers
Unlike workplace laws which require employers to offer accommodation facilities to the disabled in workplaces, where only employers who have more than a given number for workforce are required. The law on lactation does not discriminate. The employers are supposed to offer the break irrespective of eh size of the firm.
Breast Feeding Versus Expressing Breast Milk
The law in California offers lactation mothers the right to express milk for their babies. The law does not allow the mothers to breastfeed their babies during work hours. If the employer provides onsite childcare facility, then the employee can access opportunity to breastfeed during breaks.
Amount of Break Time
The employers are required to give a reasonable amount of time to employees so that they can express milk. The breaks should be taken during usual breaks and milk time. There is also an allowance for employees to take unpaid breastfeeding breaks.
Location
The location of the lactation facilities should be close to the employees work area. It should not be a toilet stall, but a private space where the employees can easily express milk.
Employer Exception
If the breaks will really inconvenience the employer, then the breaks will not be allowed.
Penalties for Failure to Accommodate
The state labor commission can fine the employer $100 for each violation of the law.
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