Break Time for Nursing Mothers

Updated 2/27/13

Introduction

Congress has passed a law that requires employers with 50 or more workers to provide a private place, other than a bathroom, for mothers of newborns to breastfeed or pump milk. The break time requirement for nursing mothers in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act ("PPACA"), took effect when the PPACA was signed into law on March 23, 2010.

Purpose

Eckerd College complies with the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) which establishes the requirement for employers to provide reasonable break periods and an environment conducive for nursing mothers to express breast milk for a nursing child up to one year after the child's birth.

Administration

Nursing mothers are encouraged to approach their immediate supervisor and make arrangements prior to the lactation period. During this meeting, the nursing mother can request the supervisor to locate a room convenient to them for break periods approved by the supervisor. The supervisor will make reasonable accommodations to include:

1. Identify a room in close proximity. The room could be an office that is used for an agreed upon period of time by the nursing mother
2. A bathroom, even if private, is not a permissible location under the Act. The location provided must be functional as a space for expressing breast milk. If the space is not dedicated to the nursing mother's use, it must be available when needed in order to meet the statutory requirement.
3. If the supervisor is unable to identify a room for this purpose, the supervisor will contact the office of Human Resources to request assistance
4. Human Resources will work with the Director of Planning and Construction and with Facilities to identify a room to be used by the nursing mother.