SAN FRANCISCO—The city of San Francisco may soon lead the way in supporting new moms who are still breastfeeding while returning to work. A new proposal would require employers have to have a lactation room for breastfeeding employees. On Tuesday, March 7, San Francisco Board of Supervisor Katy Tang introduced legislation setting minimum standards for accommodations.
If the legislation garners enough support, it will make it easier for mothers to pump breast milk in the workplace. A private room will be in place that allows mothers the privacy to feed their baby or pump milk.
“So many women feel so uncomfortable asking employers for things they need after having a baby and returning to work,” said Tang.
Standards require that lactation rooms cannot be a bathroom and must be near the mother’s work area. It must be clean, have a seat and table with close access to a sink, electricity, and a refrigerator. The proposal calls for a hardship exemption, which may help gain support from small merchants.
The CEO of “Day One Baby,” a company that sets up lactation stations for businesses, Microsoft being one them has already reported that her clients do understand the benefit of the proposed lactation rooms.
“Small business doesn’t want to have more regulations but if you don’t have some it won’t happen so we accept that,” said Henry Karnilowicz, with the District Council of Merchants.
“I wish that this new legislation was done sooner. Yes restaurants and shopping malls have bathrooms that allows breastfeeding but its uncomfortable,” said Barbara Mantecon a mother of tow toddlers to the San Francisco News.
Written By Deanna Morgado and Maria Chavez
