Suzie contemplating her potential…
When President Obama signed part two of the Health Care Reform Legislation [The Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 ("Reconciliation Bill")] on March 30th, a provision of the FSLA (Fair Labor Standards Act) was amended to require employers to provide space for working moms who need to express breast milk.
- A new paragraph (r) is added to Section 7 of the FLSA that requires employers to provide unpaid, reasonable break time for nursing mothers to express breast milk, as such employee has need to express the milk, for one year after the child’s birth and a place to express the milk “other than a bathroom, that is shielded from view and free from intrusion.” An employer with less than 50 employees will not be required to implement this provision if doing so would cause the employer an “undue hardship.”
- This provision is effective immediately.
A great step for healthy babies.
How many of you have pumped milk or nursed your baby in a bathroom?
Been there, done that. However, I worked in a small office in a home, so it was a nice, actual BATHroom, rather than a stall. It was much nicer on the days when my husband brought the baby by, and we sat outdoors under the trees.
I remember nursing both of my girls in a bathroom at different times!
I agree it’s a wonderful idea, but the post here explains why it may not change much for many: http://www.sustainablemothering.com/2010/05/10/curb-your-enthusiasm-about-the-new-federal-workplace-pumping-law/ I know at my job (a maternity ward in a hospital!), we’ve been given what is essentially a closet that is too far from where most nurses work to be of practical help to anyone. It’s also got no sink, fridge, etc, so if you’re going to pump in a closet, you may as well do it close to where you work.