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Thursday, May 15, 2008

Ind. Law - "Law aids breast-feeding moms at work"

Shari Rudavsky reports today in the Indianapolis Star:

New moms returning to work may find it easier to keep breast-feeding after July 1, when a new state law takes effect.

The law requires employers to provide a private place for women who are breast-feeding to pump milk and have a cold place to store it.
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Indiana's law provides no punishment for employers that don't comply, but breast-feeding advocates say it's still a good deal for women and businesses, too. * * *

Indiana's new law says businesses must comply "to the extent reasonably possible," but it provides no penalties and no requirements for the space designated, other than that it provide privacy.

Some states have more stringent regulations. In Oregon, for instance, a company that fails to meet its requirement could face a $1,000 fine.

Indiana's original proposal contained stronger wording. But after it failed to get enough support, in part because of complaints from business representatives, such as the Indiana Manufacturers Association, advocates softened the bill.

"What we didn't need was for a business to have to dedicate a certain number of square feet of their property, particularly since it didn't make an exception for the fact that there might not be any lactating females employed there," said Ed Roberts, the manufacturing association's vice president for human resources, labor, legal and political affairs.

George Raymond, vice president for human resources and labor relations at the Indiana Chamber of Commerce, said efforts need to now focus on informing businesses about the law.

"I just think it's going to come as a surprise to a lot of businesses, particularly small businesses," he said.

Here is the law, SEA 219.

Posted by Marcia Oddi on May 15, 2008 07:52 AM
Posted to Indiana Law