A Legal Analysis of Breast-Feeding Accommodation Requirements in the Workplace

Public Personnel Management

Volumn 32, Issue 3, 2003, Pages 383-395

  Petersen, Donald J ^a   Boller, Harvey R ^a  

^a LOYOLA UNIVERSITY CHICAGO   (United States)

Author keywords

[No Author keywords available]

Indexed keywords

EID: 0141956245     PISSN: 00910260     EISSN: None     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1177/009102600303200305     Document Type: Review

References (65)

1. Martinez v. N.B.C. Inc., 84 FEP Cases 1683 (1999).
2. th Cir. (Fla)] (1981).
3. Id. at 787.
4. I b. i. d.
5. th Clr. 1988). Otis Bowen was then Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services.
6. Id. at 932.
7. Id. at 931-932.
8. 719 F.Supp. 995 (D.Kan. 1989).
9. Id. at 1000.
10. Id. at 1001.
11. thy Cir. 1991).
12. 42 U.S.C. §2000e (k) (1978).
13. Wallace v. Pyro Mining Co., supra, at 869.
14. I b i d
15. I b i d.
16. I b i d.
17. Id. at 870.
18. 950 RSupp. 564 (S.D.N.Y 1996).
19. Id. at 569.
20. Id. at 571.
21. 960 F.Supp. 1487 (D.Colo. 1997).
22. 29 U.S.C. § 2601, et. seq.
23. 42 U.S.C. §2000e, et. seq.
24. Id. at 1492. The court did note that to satisfy the requirements of the PDA, a woman does not have to be pregnant when the alleged discrimination occurred, only that she was pregnant at or near the time the alleged discrimination occurred [at 1493]. In this case, Fejes was terminated less than three months after pregnancy.
25. I. b. i. d.
26. 997 F.Supp. 306 (N.D.N.Y 1998).
27. See Donaldson v. American Banco Corp., Inc., 945 F.Supp. 1456 (D.Colo. 1996).
28. Id. at 310.
29. I b i d.
30. 42 U.S.C. § 12101, et. seq. Reproduction is, of course, a major life activity. See Erickson v. Northeastern Illinois University, 911 F.Supp, 316, 32.1 (N.D.III. 1995); Pacourek v. Inland Steel Co., 858 F.Supp. 1393, 1404-1405 (N.D.III. 1994); Kohn Nast & Graf, PC, 862 F.Supp. At 1320-1321; District of Columbia, 796 F.Supp. At 568; Cain v. Hyatt, 734 F.Supp. 671, 679 (E.D.Pa. 1990). One court has held, however, that reproduction does not constitute a major life activity. See Zatarin v. WDSU-Television, Inc., 881 F.Supp. 240, 243 (E.D.La. 1995).
31. Bond v. Sterling, Inc. and Kay Jewelers, supra, at 311.
32. Id. However, in one case, a woman made a claim under the state's workers compensation law for a disability because her baby was suffering from an allergic condition that required breast-feeding. While the court acknowledged that a disability must occur as a result of a complication from pregnancy, and the disability was not with the mother, but with the newborn, the court nevertheless stated that the statute should be interpreted "liberally and humanely." It, therefore, gave additional benefits to the plaintiff. See Kallir v. Friendly Ice Cream, 463 N.YS.2d 56 (A.D.3Dept. 1983).
33. Supra at f.n. 1.
34. In June, Martinez returned to full-time status to her job.
35. She complained that on three occasions a male coworker had made offensive comments regarding her breast pumping.
36. Id. at_1685._ The court cited LaCopana v. Pergament Home Centers, Inc., 982 F.Supp. 213, 228 (S.D.N.Y. 1997); accord, Lehmuller v. Incorporated Village of Sag Harbor, 944 F.Supp. 1087,1093 (E.D.N.Y 1996).
37. Supra.
38. Sex-plus discrimination is widely recognized as a cause of action. See e.g., Phillips v. Martin Marietta Corp. 400 U.S. 542, 544, 91 S.Ct. 496; Fisher v. Vassar College, 70 F.3d 1420, 1448 (2d Cir. 1995) (Fischer I), on reh'g. en banc, 114 F.3d 1332 (2d Cir. 1997), cert, denied, 522 U.S. 1025 (1998).
39. Martinez v. N.B.C. Inc., supra at 1686.
40. I b i d.
41. I b i d.
42. Id. at 1687.
43. 856 S.W2d 636 (Ark.App, 1993).
44. Id. at 639.
45. I b i d.
46. Lactation Accommodation Bill (A.B. 1025).
47. California law requires employers to provide at least 10 minutes of break time for every four hours worked.
48. Ill PA 92-0068, Nursing Mothers in the Workplace Act.
49. Minn, Stat. § 181.939 (2000). The Illinois law Is based on the Minnesota one.
50. O.C.G.A. § 34-2-6 (2000).
51. Connecticut 2001, Ct. RA. 182 (2001).
52. HRS § 378-2 (1999). The Hawaii Statute prohibits discrimination against employees who are breast-feeding or expressing milk at the workplace.
53. Fla. Laws Ch. 217 (1999).
54. Texas § 165.003.
55. Wash. RCW 43.70.
56. Texas Health & Safety Code § 165.003 (2000). A list of "mother-friendly" businesses are available for public inspection in the Texas Dept. of Health.
57. Wallace v. Pyro Mining Co., supra, at 869-870.
58. Fejes v. Gilpin Ventures, Inc., supra. At 1492.
59. Martinez v. N.B.C. Inc., supra at 1686.
60. Bond v. Sterling, Inc. and Kay Jewelers, supra at 311.
61. Barrash v. Bowen, supra.
62. Wallace v. Pyro Mining Co., supra at 870.
63. McNill v. New York City Dept. of Correction, supra at 571. Accord Fejes v. Gilpin Ventures, Inc., supra at 1492.
64. Dike v. school Board of Orange County, Florida, supra.
65. Barrash v. Bowen, supra.