Effective Monday, January 8, the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination was amended to include breastfeeding as a protected status. As a result, an employer cannot refuse to hire, cannot discharge, and cannot treat someone adversely with regard to the terms, conditions or privileges of their employment because that employee is breastfeeding and needs workplace accommodations.
Additionally, the new law requires employers to provide reasonable accommodations to an employee who is breast feeding her infant child, including reasonable break time each day and a suitable, private room other than a toilet stall, in close proximity to the employee’s work area in which the employee can express breast milk for the child.