Can I get kicked out of a restaurant for breastfeeding?

The Controversy Surrounding Breastfeeding in Restaurants
In recent weeks, a heated debate has emerged over the rights of breastfeeding mothers in public spaces, particularly restaurants. This discussion was ignited by a distressing incident involving Ruby Meeden, a mother who claims she was forcibly removed from the Greek Islands Restaurant in Anacortes, Washington, while breastfeeding her newborn son. The restaurant staff allegedly told her to “never come back,” prompting outrage and protests from local mothers and supporters of breastfeeding rights.
Legal Protections for Breastfeeding Mothers
In many places, laws protect a mother’s right to breastfeed in public, including restaurants. These laws are designed to ensure that mothers can feed their infants without facing discrimination or harassment. For instance, Washington state law explicitly allows breastfeeding in any public or private location where a mother is authorized to be. This means that, legally, a mother should not be asked to leave a restaurant for breastfeeding her child.
However, the reality can be different. Some establishments may have their own policies or cultural norms that conflict with these legal protections. In Meeden’s case, she reported feeling humiliated and unjustly treated, raising questions about the enforcement of breastfeeding rights in private businesses.
Public Reaction and Support
The incident has sparked significant public outcry. Following Meeden’s experience, a group of mothers organized a protest outside the restaurant, advocating for the rights of breastfeeding mothers and raising awareness about the challenges they face in public spaces. This grassroots movement highlights a growing demand for societal acceptance and support for breastfeeding, as well as the need for businesses to be educated about the legal rights of nursing mothers.
The Role of Restaurant Policies
While many restaurants are welcoming to breastfeeding mothers, some may have policies that encourage the use of designated lactation rooms. Critics argue that such policies can be exclusionary and fail to recognize the natural and necessary act of breastfeeding. In Meeden’s case, the restaurant’s response was perceived as not only rude but also indicative of a broader issue regarding how breastfeeding is viewed in public settings.
Conclusion
The question of whether a mother can be kicked out of a restaurant for breastfeeding is not just a legal one; it reflects deeper societal attitudes towards breastfeeding in public. While laws generally protect the right to breastfeed, incidents like Meeden’s reveal that enforcement and acceptance can vary widely. As public awareness grows and advocacy efforts continue, the hope is for a future where breastfeeding is normalized and supported in all public spaces, including restaurants.

Does pumping count as a break?

Pursuant to Labor Code Section 1030 every employer, including the state and any political subdivision, must provide a reasonable amount of break time to accommodate an employee desiring to express breast milk for the employee’s infant child each time the employee has a need to express milk.

Is it appropriate to breastfeed in a restaurant?

Legally, you’re allowed to nurse anywhere. You don’t have to “cover up” or be re-seated or keep it at home.

What is the breastfeeding friendly workplace policy?

CALIFORNIA LACTATION ACCOMODATION LAW (Chapter 3.8, Section 1030, Part 3 of Division 2 of the Labor Code) This law requires all California employers to provide reasonable amount of break time and make a reasonable effort to provide space other than a toilet stall, close to the employee’s work area, to accommodate an …

What are the laws for breastfeeding in the workplace?

The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) requires employers to provide reasonable break time for an employee to express breast milk for their nursing child for one year after the child’s birth each time such employee has need to express the milk.

Are there laws to protect a breastfeeding woman in the workplace?

Federal laws require employers to provide “reasonable break time” for nursing mothers with private, non-bathroom areas, shielded from view and free from intrusion of coworkers and the public to express breast milk during the workday.

Is breastfeeding considered indecent exposure?

§ 3518: A mother breastfeeding her child in any place, whether public or private, where she is otherwise authorized to be, shall not be deemed as indecent exposure, obscene act, or other punishable action.

Can a business kick you out for breastfeeding?

Federal law (FLSA §7 ) requires employers to provide reasonable break time and safe place for a non-exempt employee to express breast milk for her nursing child for one year. California law (LAB §1030) extends these protections to any employee for as long as employee is nursing her child.

Can you be kicked out of a restaurant for breastfeeding?

Doesn’t matter where you are located in the United States. It’s legal in all 50 states plus PR, Virgin Islands and DC to breastfeed in public and a business cannot legally kick you out for doing it.

Is it illegal to ask a woman to stop breastfeeding?

Know your rights.
You should not ever be made to feel uncomfortable about breastfeeding in public. It is illegal for anyone to ask a breastfeeding woman to leave a public place, such as a cafe, shop or public transport.

What states have lactation laws?

Lactation and Breastfeeding Laws. Parents in all 50 states have the right to breastfeed in public and all breastfeeding employees are protected by the federal Fair Labor Standards Act.