Breastfeeding - The Best Investement
Women with infants and toddlers are the fastest growing segment of the workforce in the
United States. To help these women achieve the American Academy of Pediatrics
recommendation that women breastfeed until children are at least one year of age, it is
important that businesses attempt to reduce the barriers for employees who choose to
breastfeed and work. Employers that make it easy for mothers to continue breastfeeding
after returning to work have enjoyed positive results, including lower absenteeism,
higher productivity, higher company loyalty, higher employee morale, and lower health
care costs.
The following information is helpful to both mothers and employers and will answer
questions about current breastfeeding laws:
Lactation Accommodation
This law requires all California employers to provide a reasonable amount of break time
and make a reasonable effort to provide a private space, other than a toilet stall, close
to the employee's work area, to accommodate an employee desiring to express breastmilk for
her baby. The break time shall be unpaid if the break time does not run concurrently with
the rest time authorized for the employee. An employer is not required to provide break
time for pumping if taking break time beyond the usual time allotted for breaks would
seriously disrupt the operations of the employer. Violation of this chapter is subject to
a civil penalty of $100.
Breastfeeding at Work
The California legislature encourages the State of California and all California employers
to strongly support and encourage the practice of breastfeeding by striving to accommodate
the needs of employees, and by ensuring that employees are provided with adequate
facilities for breastfeeding, or the expressing of milk for their children; and that the
Governor declare by executive order that all State of California employees shall be
provided with adequate facilities for breastfeeding or the expressing of milk.
Personal Rights: Breastfeeding
This law provides that a mother may breastfeed her child in any location, public or private,
except the private home or residence of another, where the mother and child are authorized
to be present.
Jury Service: Breastfeeding
This law exempts breastfeeding mothers from jury duty, and requires the State to take steps
to eliminate the need for the mother to appear in court to make this request.
Breastfeeding Information and Support Web Sites
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