New Breastfeeding Law to Help Working Moms

Women returning to work after childbirth often have to choose between breastfeeding at work and their jobs, according to Chris Mulford, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Breastfeeding Committee. However, under the new health care law (aka Obamacare), that is about to change.

The Affordable Care Act will impact nursing law and breastfeeding at work. The Department of Labor is establishing guidelines for the new nursing law, which will including the following provisions:

• Nursing spaces must be made available, and in a place other than a bathroom.
• Women must be allowed to nurse at work for up to one year.
• Employers must provide a reasonable amount of time for actual breastfeeding or pumping.
• Employers do not need to pay women for time spent breastfeeding
• Employers with less than 50 employees may be exempt if they can establish an undue hardship.

Source: Findlaw