Recently, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) made notable strides in enforcing the “Providing Urgent Maternal Protections (PUMP) for Nursing Mothers Act” (“PUMP Act”). This comes as part of its second enforcement action under the Act, where a Florida Palm Coast resort and spa was delivered a penalty due to an alleged failure in providing nursing mothers with the required privacy for pumping.
As detailed by the DirectEmployers Association, this enforcement action under the PUMP Act is part of a growing trend of increased workplace regulation to bolster the rights of working mothers.
However, the exact nature of the breach for which the Florida Palm Coast resort and spa have been fined, hasn’t been made public. Greater insight into this recent action would benefit from a comprehensive overview of the complete case, which unfortunately is not currently available. Further updates and more detailed pertinent information are expected to follow.
This case serves as a solid reminder to all employers, but especially those in the hospitality sector to ensure their workplaces are fully compliant with the PUMP Act to avoid potential significant penalties. More awareness and application of these federal legislations will surely contribute to a more inclusive and supportive workplace for nursing mothers.