Being a working mother is a difficult thing. However, taking on the hats of mother and provider is something that many Michigan residents do every single day. Unfortunately, there are those who will face workplace discrimination for trying to take care of their families in ways that are acceptable to them.
Frontier Airlines is in the news again following the filing of legal complaints by two female flight attendants. The plaintiffs claim the the company violated their rights as mothers by failing to provide acceptable solutions for them to pump milk during their shifts so that they could feed their infants. They also claim that the company’s maternity coverage and accommodations for pregnant and new mothers are insufficient. Frontier faced a similar lawsuit just last year brought about by four female pilots.
At this point, it is unclear how Frontier will attempt to resolve this case. So far, the company’s only response is that is tries to work with breastfeeding mothers. The other accusations were not addressed.
Workplace discrimination comes in so many forms. No one should be discriminated against because of how they wish to provide for and take care of their families. Working mothers in Michigan can, just like these flight attendants have, seek monetary relief for their losses as well as to have changes made in their places of work by filing civil claims against their employers if they have reason to believe that their status as mothers has affected how they are treated while on the job.
Source: Newsweek, “Nursing Mother Flight Attendants Forbidden by Frontier Airlines From Pumping Milk“, Lucy Westcott, May 16, 2017