Browns Mills, NJ woman Andrea Gossard planned to return to her job at the Bordentown Hampton Inn after giving birth and taking maternity leave. She made the choice to breastfeed her new baby, and hoped to use a breast pump during her breaks.
After meeting with the hotel's general manager and assistant manager to discuss her schedule upon returning, they told her that no positions would accommodate her breaks and fired her. The 21-year-old is now seeking legal advice and a new job.
Gossard would need to take two or three 15-20 minute breaks to use her pump. She did not expect to be paid for the time during these breaks. According to a provision in the 2010 Affordable Care Act, employers must provide "reasonable break time for an employee to express breast milk for her nursing child for one year after the child's birth" and "are also required to provide a place, other than a bathroom, that is shielded from view and free from intrusion."
Gossard's employers have no right to deny her the right to use a breast pump. Please sign the petition to urge Hampton Inn to offer Gossard her job back and to revisit their policy on accommodating breastfeeding mothers.
We, the undersigned, are concerned with the Bordentown Hampton Inn's decision to fire a woman rather than allow her to pump breast milk.
Browns Mills, NJ woman Andrea Gossard planned to return to her job at the Bordentown Hampton Inn after giving birth and taking maternity leave. She made the choice to breastfeed her new baby, and hoped to use a breast pump during her breaks.
After meeting with the hotel's general manager and assistant manager to discuss her schedule upon returning, they told her that no positions would accommodate her breaks and fired her. The 21-year-old is now seeking legal advice and a new job.
Gossard would need to take two or three 15-20 minute breaks to use her pump. She did not expect to be paid for the time during these breaks. According to a provision in the 2010 Affordable Care Act, employers must provide "reasonable break time for an employee to express breast milk for her nursing child for one year after the child's birth" and "are also required to provide a place, other than a bathroom, that is shielded from view and free from intrusion."
Gossard's employers have no right to deny her the right to use a breast pump. We respectfully urge you to offer Gossard her job back and to revisit your policy on accommodating breastfeeding mothers. Thank you for taking the time to read and consider our petition.
