Legal Developments Pertaining to Breastfeeding in the Workplace

On January 8, 2018, New Jersey P.L. 2017, c. 263 was signed into law. This law expands certain civil rights protections under the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination to include breastfeeding and expressing milk or related medical conditions. This law has implications for women who need to breastfeed or express milk while in the workplace.

Under the law, a woman cannot be fired or otherwise discriminated against by her employer because of breastfeeding or expressing her milk during work breaks. Notably, the law also requires all employers to provide reasonable break time each day and a suitable location for an employee who is breastfeeding to express her milk in private. The private space cannot be a toilet stall, and should be located close to the work area. Employers do not have to pay women while they are breastfeeding or expressing milk, unless they already receive compensation during their breaks.

If you have any questions as to how these changes impact you, the experienced attorneys at the Zazzali Firm stand ready to answer any questions you may have and, if necessary, help you to enforce your rights.

©2018 Zazzali, Fagella, Nowak, Kleinbaum & Friedman. Blog is provided for informational purposes only. It is not intended as legal advice nor does it create an attorney/client relationship between the Zazzali Law Firm and any readers or recipients. Readers should consult counsel of their own choosing to discuss how these matters relate to their individual circumstances. Reproduction in whole or in part is prohibited without the express written consent of the Zazzali Law Firm.