Lactation Accommodation in California

After your pregnancy leave, you will likely to be breastfeeding your baby. There are several changes which can come up in your life being a working mom. But, you are in luck if you work in the state of California because there are laws which protect you against any harassment if you wish to breastfeed your baby after you return to work. The laws require employers to offer you breaks where you can breastfeed your baby comfortably.

Lactation Breaks under Federal Law

Under the federal Affordable Care Act, the federal laws were amended to allow mothers access lactation breaks. The law also touched on the wage and hours of work. The laws require employers to offer the mothers reasonable unpaid breaks for them to express milk for their babies. It also requires the companies to provide the lactation mothers a private room apart from bathrooms where they can enjoy privacy and express milk for their babies for up to one year after giving birth. The California law on the lactation mother is very broad. It covers different sections.

Lactation Breaks under California Law

In 1998, the legislators in California passed laws requiring all employers to provide private spaces where mothers can express milk for their mothers. In 2002, the state enacted labor code which made it mandatory for all employers to provide lactation rooms and offer employees enough time to express milk for their mothers.

Covered Employers

Unlike laws such as accommodation for disabled which cover employees over a certain number, the lactation accommodation law covers employees of all types. Even if you have few employees, the law requires you to provide them with the lactation rooms and the necessary breaks for them to breastfeed after giving birth.

Breast Feeding Versus Expressing Breast Milk

The law requires all employers in California to provide rooms where mothers can express milk. The law does not require all employers to provide private breastfeeding rooms at work, but, if an employer chooses to provide breastfeeding places at work, the employer should provide a private place for the mothers to breastfeed their babies.

Amount of Break Time

The law requires the employer to offer reasonable time. They can provide the breaks along regular breaks at work and other additional unpaid breaks. There is no limit on the period a mother can ask for the break.

Location

The employer should provide a private room near the work space for the employee.

Employer Exception

If the breaks cause reasonable disruption, the business can be exempted from the breaks.

Penalties for Failure to Accommodate

The state labor commissioner can penalize uncooperative employer $100 per break denied.