INDIANAPOLIS — After Indiana Senate Republicans voted Monday to strip a proposal that would give pregnant women more accommodations in the workplace and turn the bill into a study committee, Governor Eric Holcomb said he is still committed to improving infant and maternal health across the state.
Supporters of the requirements say it would help improve the state's infant and maternal health rankings, while opponents are concerned about the impact some of the requirements could have on small businesses.
Businesses like the marketing focused consultancy Lev in downtown Indianapolis aren't waiting on laws to be put in place. They have a Mother's Room. It has a mini-fridge for breast milk, a place to store breast pumps, a pumping in progress sign and a comfortable chair.
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"It's so important to have these spaces because women need to be supported when they come back to the workplace," Holly Enneking, director of marketing, said.
She says decisions like these are the norm at Lev because of the people who work there.
"One of the things that we're really proud about at Lev is that our workforce is actually 51 percent women and our executive team is split 50 percent men and 50 percent women," Enneking said.
Enneking says businesses looking to progress toward a better future should take notes from those already doing things to make the work environment better for everyone.
"There's a lot of value that women can add to any workplace," Enneking said. "It's just about asking women what will make their lives easier as they're trying to transition from pregnancy to being working mothers.
