Breastfeeding at work?
Breastfeeding at work?
"I've just gone back to work after maternity leave. I'm wondering if I can ask my boss to give me time during working hours to breastfeed my son?"
Barbara, Genthod
The principle of equality between women and men prohibits any discrimination based on sex in working life. As such, pregnant women enjoy a high level of protection in the workplace during their pregnancy, as well as after their maternity leave when they are breastfeeding. Employers must ensure that their health and that of their child is protected and that their workplace is arranged in such a way that they feel comfortable, in accordance with the provisions of the Labour Act, its implementing ordinance and the Federal Ordinance on Maternity Protection.
Throughout their pregnancy, employees are authorised, on simple notice, not to go to their workplace or to leave it when they consider it necessary. The employer may not require them to move heavy loads or do work that exposes them to cold, heat, damp or noise. Pregnant and breastfeeding women may not work at night, and their contractually agreed working hours may not be extended. During pregnancy and when breast-feeding, employees may not perform tasks that require tiring movements or postures, or work whose rhythm is dictated by a machine.
As regards the time devoted to breastfeeding, the employer is obliged to allow the breastfeeding mother the necessary time to do so throughout the child's first year of life. If the employee is able to breastfeed her child at her place of work, all the time she spends there is considered to be working time, whereas if she leaves her place of work to breastfeed her child, only half the time away from the office is considered to be working time. The second half may be made up at a later date, but cannot under any circumstances be deducted from rest periods such as holidays.
So, when you return from maternity leave, you can expect your employer to give you time to breastfeed your child until it celebrates its first birthday. If, for example, you devote one hour a day to breast-feeding without having to travel, the time devoted to breast-feeding does not have to be made up under any circumstances. However, if you have to be absent from work for two hours, only one hour may be made up if your employer so requires.
