California’s Labor Commission fined a business for not providing “reasonable accomodation” for a worker who was breastfeeding. This is the first fine of its kind in California:
The commission cited International Security Services Inc., a private security firm, after investigating a complaint by one of its employees.
The woman, who was not named in a press release, said she had to express breast milk in a room monitored by security cameras and didn’t get the time she needed.
The labor commission said it was was the first time a company had run afoul of a 2001 state law requiring employers to give workers who are breast feeding privacy and a reasonable amount of time to express the milk.
Seriously? The room had cameras? I understand it was a “security firm”, but cameras? Was that to ensure she wasn’t expressing secrets as well as milk?
I’m thinking I need a “creepy workplace practices” category between this post and the next post that I’m writing.
June 28th, 2008 at 8:20 pm
There’s been only *one* complaint against employers??? Gah! That tells me either nursing mommies don’t know about this law, or don’t feel empowered to make it stick. Myself, I work in a healthcare setting with lovely people - but my options for pumping were in a staff room open to all comers (no lock on the door) or in a staff bathroom. Guess which I chose? Guess how happy I am about it?
June 28th, 2008 at 8:39 pm
I think you’re right (nursing moms don’t know, and don’t feel empowered). I also think it’s possible there weren’t too many nursing mothers at the security firm. Maybe just one. Who knows.