Governor Bruce Rauner has signed into law a bill that expands protections for employees needing to express breast milk in the workplace.  The law amends the preexisting Nursing Mothers in the Workplace Act (the “Act”) in several significant ways—most notably that break time provided for the expression of milk “may not reduce an employee’s compensation”

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In this episode of The Proskauer Brief, senior counsel Harris Mufson and associate Laura Fant discuss the New York City Temporary Schedule Change Law that recently went to effect. This law effectively requires employers to grant employee requests for temporary schedule changes for certain medical and family care purposes, which can include caring for a minor child or for another family or household member who requires care due to a disability or medical condition, attending certain government proceedings for benefits and also for other reasons under the New York City Earned Sick and Safe Time Act.

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As we have previously reported, effective July 18, 2018, employers in New York City are now required to grant employee requests for temporary work schedule changes when needed for certain medical and family care purposes.  Employers are required to grant such requests either twice per calendar year for up to one business day per

In an opinion letter issued on April 12, 2018, the U.S. Department of Labor concluded that 15-minute breaks throughout the day required by an employee’s serious health condition are not compensable—notwithstanding the general rule that breaks of 20 minutes or less are to be paid.  The agency explained the exception as follows:

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The New York City Council voted last month to amend the New York City Human Rights Law (“NYCHRL”) to mandate that covered entities engage in “cooperative dialogue” with those persons who may be entitled to a reasonable accommodation.

On January 19, 2018, because the Mayor failed to take action within thirty days of its passage,

Newly enacted amendments to the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination (NJLAD) have expanded state anti-discrimination protections in the workplace, housing, and in public accommodations to include individuals who are breastfeeding or expressing milk.  The amendments also require employers to provide reasonable accommodation to breastfeeding employees.  The amendments took effect immediately upon signing by the Governor