Saturday, March 27, 2010

Health Care Bill Establishes a Right to Pump at Work in the Entire US!

  • Whatever you think of the health care bill passed by Congress the other day, you may be pleased to hear that the bill extends a right to pump at work to moms in every state. Some states, such as California and New York, already have such a law, but most don't.
  • Well...I've long since been done with pumping. I did breast feed two kids, while I worked full time.
  • I had to make up all my pump time with shortened lunches on top of pumping during lunch, I also took work home with me to make up time. Time that I didn't have, but had to make due.
  • With my first experience I hit some rocky times in the work place. There was a communication glitch that got worked out, but at the time seemed horrible.
  • With my second child I had two people try and open the door while I was pumping even though I had a sign taped to the door. There are barely any offices that have doors that lock at my work. I almost had a whole tour join me in the room where I was pumping.
  • I don't have an office with a door at all, so I always had to use someone else's office to pump.
  • The new health bill in regards to nursing would still have not worked in my favor because my work has less then 50 workers.
  • I just found out that the new health bill would require employers of 50 or more employees 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 do so. The employer shall make reasonable efforts to provide a place, other than a bathroom, that is shielded from view and free from intrusion from co-workers and the public, which may be used by an employee to express breast milk. An employer shall not be required to compensate an employee for any work time spent for such purpose.

  • I'm not thrilled that it extends the right for only up to 1 year (I pumped longer for my son's), and why only work places of 50 + workers? I am thrilled about the difference this would make for mothers in the many states, mine included, that do not extend this right under state law!

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