Whataburger owes a former employee back pay and damages after the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) said the San Antonio-based burger franchise violated labor laws when they denied an employee time to pump breast milk. Whataburger was ordered to pay $900 in back wages and $900 in liquidated damages, according to a news release from the DOL.

DOL found through an investigation that a Whataburger in Lubbock denied an employee break time so she could pump breast milk, which is required under the Fair Labor Standards Act. When the woman left the premises to pump breast milk, Whataburger fired her, according to the news release.

"Depriving a nursing mother of her right to express breast milk with enough break time to do it, and then firing her is against the law," said Wage and Hour District Director Evelyn Ortiz in the news release. "Employers must comply with all of the FLSA provisions, including the right of nursing mothers to request the time and space they need to express milk without fear of retaliation."

More for you

The PUMP for Nursing Mothers Act says people that are nursing must be provided reasonable time and space, other than the bathroom, to pump breast milk in space that is shielded from view. That right is available for up to one year after birth.

Whataburger signed an Enhanced Compliance Agreement saying it will provide managers with FLSA training in the future.

Read Full Story: https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiTmh0dHBzOi8vd3d3Lm15c2FuYW50b25pby5j...