A Popular Texas Chain Restaurant’s Under Investigation in Lubbock
If you live in Texas then you know Whataburger is one of the many staples to being a Texan but one restaurant location is currently being investigated. The Lubbock Whataburger restaurant is currently being investigated by the U.S. Department of Labor and being accused of not letting an employee pump her breast milk within a reasonable time and then firing her.
Both of these accusations are part of the Fair Labor Standards Act and PUMP for Nursing Mothers Act which gives employees certain rights when it comes to pumping breast milk. It is against the law to fire an employee who is expressing breast milk and not giving them enough time or a place to do so.
KAMC news reports that Whataburger actually released a statement in regards to what happened.
Whataburger understands the unique challenges facing nursing mothers at work and has an official company policy that upholds the right to time and privacy. We strongly believe that nursing mothers have the right to reasonable break time and a private place, other than a bathroom, to express breast milk. For more than 72 years, we have employed thousands of working mothers (and parents) and pride ourselves on the flexibility and support we offer so they can spend time taking care of their children. While we are unable to comment on this particular situation, we are committed to supporting nursing mothers – and all parents – as they balance work and family.
After that statement was issued Whataburger had to sign an Enhanced Compliance Agreement form. That agreement states that as a company Whataburger will ensure that all potential future managers from that point forward would be trained in Fair Labor Standards Act training. Along with issuing an apology and an Enhancing Compliance Agreement that Whataburger also had to pay the former employee $900 in back wages and $900 in liquidated damages after that incident occurred.