Professional Resources

Last month the Department of Labor issued a fact sheet regarding break time for nursing mothers.  This new unpaid break requirement is required as per the new health care law passed earlier this year. Employers are required to provide “reasonable break time for an employee to express breast milk for her nursing child for 1 year after the child’s birth each time such employee has need to express the milk.”  Employers are also required to provide “a place, other than a bathroom, that is shielded from view and free from intrusion from coworkers and the public, which may be used by an employee to express breast milk.”  The frequency and duration of the breaks may vary. Employers with fewer than 50 employee may be exempt from the break requirement if they can show an undue hardship.  See http://www.dol.gov/whd/regs/compliance/whdfs73.htm.

For a state listing of laws covering nursing mothers see http://www.ncsl.org/default.aspx?tabid=14389