SB 142 – Employees: Lactation Accommodation
The California Breastfeeding Coalition is thrilled to announce that SB 142 was signed by Governor Newsom. We are grateful to Senator Scott Wiener and Assemblymember Lorena Gonzalez for championing lactation protections for working parents.
The California Breastfeeding Coalition was a sponsor of SB 142 with Legal Aid at Work and the California WIC Association. This bill took two years to pass and we couldn’t have done it without advocacy from people just like you. Thank you for submitting letters of support, making phone calls, tweeting and sharing posts on Facebook! Our collective is mighty and strong!
Please spread the good news on your social media and tag us @CALIFORNIABF @LegalAidAtWork @CalWIC
Last Update: 10/10/19 – Approved by the Governor and Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 720, Statutes of 2019.
Write:
Submit a letter of support TODAY to Gov. Gavin Newsom. Download a customizable support letter and submission instructions.
Download the letter here.
Call:
Make a short, simple phone call to Gov. Gavin Newsom at 916.445.2841 to ask for his signature on SB 142.
Sample script: Hello. My name is _. I live in _, CA. I am calling to ask Governor Newsom to sign SB 142 by Senator Wiener. SB 142 would improve lactation facilities for new moms returning to work. I believe that women should not have to choose between returning to work and breastfeeding their babies. The workplace needs to evolve to support breastfeeding so that women and children can have the best short- and long-term health outcomes.
Tweet:
#SB142 by @Scott_Wiener means no parent should have to choose between returning to work and breastfeeding their babies. Asking for your support @GavinNewsom to help create workplace equity for breastfeeding parents.
We need #SB142 by @Scott_Wiener because breastfeeding is vital the health of women and children. Asking for your support @GavinNewsom to give women the best chance of breastfeeding past the first few weeks of birth.
#SB142 alleviates the pressure new moms feel to choose between work and family. @GavinNewsom – We need your support to ensure adequate space and break time for lactation
We need Gov. @GavinNewsom to sign #SB142 by @Scott_Wiener so employers and employees understand the basics of lactation accommodation AND so babies get the best their moms can provide.
#Breastfeeding is vital to the health of women & children. Gov. @GavinNewsom: Please support #SB142 to give women the best chance at maintaining milk supply after returning to work.
About the Bill: SB 142 will ensure working mothers have access to lactation facilities in the workplace, and help create more family friendly work environments
Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) and Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez (D-San Diego) re-introduced a bill to support women in the workplace by requiring lactation facilities and resources be provided to employees in California. Senate Bill 142 is modeled off of Senator Wiener’s SB 937 from 2018, which passed the Legislature, but was vetoed by Governor Brown.
SB 142 requires businesses to provide safe and clean lactation facilities for their workers that meet minimum requirements, requires that lactation facilities be built in new construction, and ensures employees receive written information about their rights to a safe and comfortable lactation space at work.
“If we’re serious about gender equity in the workplace – as we should be – we need to make it much easier for women to return to work after having a child,” said Senator Wiener. “Family-friendly workplaces increase gender equity, improve families’ health, and are good for business. Inadequate lactation accommodations often lead women, especially low-income workers, to make the difficult decision to leave their jobs or to pay for expensive formula. Providing a safe and comfortable place for women to lactate will keep infants and women healthier, and keep more women in the workforce.”
Contact Us
