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Women in New York Have Workplace Rights for Breastfeeding, Among Other Things.

Posted by Giovanna A. D'Orazio | Jun 13, 2015 | 0 Comments

New York Labor Law Section 206-c requires employers to give a nursing mother (whose child is up to three years of age) unpaid breaks in order to express breast milk.  The employer must provide the employee with written notice of this right and make “reasonable efforts” to provide the employee with a private place to express breast milk (not a restroom or toilet stall) in close (ie., walking distance) proximity to her work area.  An employer may not discriminate against a female employee for choosing to express breast milk in the workplace.The 2010 Affordable Care Act amended the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (“FLSA”) to require covered employers to provide break time to nursing mothers (who are full time hourly employees) to express breast milk (for up to one year in a private, non-bathroom location).  Small employers (less than 50 employees) may be able to establish that providing such break time would pose an undue hardship.  The FLSA also protects employees from retaliation for making complaints.  Answers to frequently asked questions about the FLSA's requirements for nursing mothers are available at http://www.dol.gov/whd/nursingmothers/faqBTNM.htm#Q5.  If you are not an hourly employee or your employer is not covered by the FLSA, you are likely protected by the New York Labor Law.

Pregnancy Discrimination Laws May Protect Breastfeeding

The Pregnancy Discrimination Act (which amended Title VII of the Civil Rights Act) is the federal law that protects women who are pregnant and those “affected by pregnancy” from discrimination.  New York employment discrimination victims have made the argument that “affected by pregnancy” would include breastfeeding mothers and that “breastfeeding discrimination” is prohibited under Title VII.  Not many cases have addressed this issue but it appears that those that have determined that there is no breastfeeding discrimination under Title VII.  It is possible, however, that a plaintiff could make a sex or “affected by pregnancy” discrimination argument based upon breastfeeding or needing breaks to express breast milk if, under the facts of the case, it could be argued that women are being treated differently than men with similar needs (for example, are men allowed to bring young children into the workplace but a woman is not allowed to bring her baby in to nurse?).

Because employment cases often involve creative arguments, it is important to contact an experienced New York employment discrimination attorney if you feel you have been treated unfairly.

About the Author

Giovanna A. D'Orazio

Giovanna has experience litigating, among other things, commercial, general civil, employment, land use and personal injury matters in New York State and federal courts. Giovanna focuses her practice on plaintiff's employment and personal injury matters, with a particular interest in women's rights and employment discrimination and harassment.

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