New Jersey Governor Chris Christie began his final week in
office by signing 40 bills into law, including an amendment to the
New Jersey Law Against Discrimination that immediately bars
discrimination against breastfeeding employees. The new law also
requires employers to provide such employees with reasonable
accommodation. New Jersey employers should take steps to
familiarize themselves with the new legal requirements and adjust
policies and practices to ensure compliance.
The Basics
Under the amendment, signed into law on January 8 and effective
immediately, you may not refuse to hire breastfeeding applicants,
and are barred from firing them or otherwise discriminating against
them in compensation and other terms, conditions, or privileges of
employment on the ground that they are breastfeeding. You are
likewise prohibited from treating women employees you know or
should know are "affected by breastfeeding" less
favorably—for example, with respect to
