Illinois Enacts New Law Mandating Women-Friendly Accommodations on Construction Sites
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker has signed a new state law requiring construction sites with female workers and more than 10 employees to provide specific accommodations for menstruation and lactation. This legislation, set to take effect in January, makes Illinois the second state, after Washington, to implement such requirements. The law mandates that employers provide a designated women's restroom with an internal lock, a sanitary place for breastfeeding mothers to express milk upon request, a minimum of 10 menstrual products, a refrigerator for breast milk storage, and running water for handwashing or cleaning pumping equipment. The initiative was championed by state Sen. Graciela Guzman and brought forward by Chicago Women in Trades, an organization dedicated to removing barriers for women in the trades. The law aims to address historical challenges faced by women in the predominantly male construction industry, including inadequate restroom facilities and lack of support for new mothers.
