In a case involving EasyJet and Sarah Ambacher & Cynthia McFarlane, an employment tribunal in Bristol held that EasyJet’s failure to offer two breastfeeding mothers limited duty days or ground duties was discriminatory.
EasyJet offered the women ground duties for 6 months only, on the grounds that continuing to breastfeed for longer than this was simply a choice. This was clearly held to be discriminatory in and of itself.
The company also rejected their request to work 8 hour shifts so that they could express milk on either side of these shifts. They did so on supposed ‘health and safety grounds’ and instead, offered them 12 hour shifts.
This ruling will have wide implications for breastfeeding women in more atypical workplaces, and employers should be careful to provide the right level of support in the workplace.
Friday 14th October 2016