New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer signed into law Aug. 22 legislation that gives working mothers the right to breast-feed after returning to work. New York's State Assembly and Senate unanimously approved the law, which was sponsored by Sen. John J. Flanagan and Assemblywoman Roann Destito.

“Employers know the merit of retaining valuable employees,” Spitzer said in a statement, “and this modest accommodation allows mothers who chose to breast-feed to continue their invaluable contribution to the economy without fearing for their jobs.”

Under the new legislation, employers are required to provide mothers of infants up to 3 years old uncompensated time to express milk or nurse their children. Employers must also make a “reasonable effort” to provide private space to mothers for that purpose.

Liz Watson, of the New York City Bar Association's Sex and Law Committee, applauded those who worked to pass the law, calling it a “win-win.”

“Businesses win because employees who are new parents will miss work less often and have lower health care costs because breastfed babies are healthier,” Watson said in a statement. “Families win because mothers will not have to quit breastfeeding when they return to work.”