Breastfeeding Accommodation in California

From the Sacramento Bee via CCH Workweek, comes the news that the California Labor Commission last week fined a Santa Clara-based company $4,000 for violating state law that requires employers to reasonably accommodate employees who are breastfeeding. The law requires that employees be given reasonable privacy and reasonable breaks to allow them to express milk.

A woman employed by International Security Services Inc., a private security firm, had to express breast milk in a room monitored by security cameras and didn't get the time she needed. Stress and lack of time have negative impacts on milk production, and I can imagine that both of those things made it nearly impossible to express milk at all. Not to mention the privacy issues . . . . I'm glad to see the California Labor Commission enforcing this law. It's hard enough balancing work and life with a new baby, particularly when you've chosen to breastfeed. Requiring employers to provide a clean, private place and a few breaks in the workday is not so much of an imposition, compared to the benefits to the women who need them and the benefits the company enjoys with worker retention and with workers who can concentrate on work instead of worrying.

MM