Breastfeeding Moms Face Illegal Discrimination at Work

A recent report summarizes the many kinds of discrimination breastfeeding mothers face at work in the United States. Here is part of one of the examples given:

An emergency room nurse was bullied, harassed and not accommodated for the need to pump during her long shifts: “My reason to go into nursing was to help people, so I would never leave a patient in need,” said Barbara, but she needed coverage from her coworkers to take regular pumping breaks. Instead she was told, “just give your kid formula.” After 3 months of struggling against her unsupportive workplace, she quit.

Breastfeeding is natural, normal and necessary for babies’ optimal growth. The World Health Organization suggests at least two years of breastfeeding (six months exclusive). However, the typical age for weaning in our ancestral context is four years and many mothers spaced children years apart to accommodate this pattern (Hewlett & Lamb, 2005).

Breastfeeding is linked to a child's overall better mental and physical health, including a lower risk of obesity and even Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) and to mother's better health.

Breastmilk has hundreds if not thousands of ingredients, is tailored to the gender of the child, and changes based on the needs of the child.

Having healthy mothers and children are signs of a strong, sustainable wise society.

Here is a list of some of the discriminatory behaviors mothers experience that are discussed in the report (quoted from the summary):

• denying pumping break requests from employees who are in pain and leaking milk;
• firing them just for asking;
• refusing to provide privacy, leaving workers to pump milk with their breasts exposed to coworkers, clients, and the public in physically unsafe conditions;
• commenting on their “tits,” comparing breastfeeding workers to animals, and mooing at them.

The report points out that “breastfeeding workers have legal rights.” Specifically, for example (quoted from the report):

• ”The Break Time for Nursing Mothers law gives many employees a right to break time and private space to express breast milk for their nursing child during the first year of life.
• Rights under the federal employment discrimination statute, Title VII, have expanded over the last decade. Discrimination based on breastfeeding and lactation is now prohibited.
• Just over half of all states have enacted legislation to provide additional rights. These range from limited laws requiring public school boards to maintain lactation policies to sweeping laws giving robust accommodation”

But the facts are that more than 9 million female workers of childbearing age (almost 1/4) are not covered by the federal Break Time for Nursing Mothers law (including registered nurses, kindergarten teachers, farmworkers). Even for those who are covered by the law, technicalities make it hard to enforce so there is widespread noncompliance. Even when there is compliance, the accommodations often are insufficient.

So, what can be done?

The report lists seven components for a Model Lactation Policy:

1. Universal coverage (all public and private workplaces no matter the size)

2. Reasonable accommodations

3. No employer exemptions

4. Recognition of diverse physical needs and circumstances (e.g., adequate and flexible break schedule, no infant age limits, all gender identities).

5. Functional space requirements (e.g., nearby, private, sanitary, equipped properly).

6. Economically realistic

One thing all of us can do: support breastfeeding generally, and breastfeeding moms and babies specifically, wherever we go.