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Break Time for Nursing Mothers
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (“Affordable Care Act”) amended
section 7 of the Fair Labor Standards Act
(“FLSA”)
to require employers to provide reasonable break time for an employee to express breast milk for her nursing child for one 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 break time requirement became effective when the Affordable Care Act was signed into law on March 23, 2010. The Wage and Hour Fact Sheet #73 “Break Time for Nursing Mothers under the FLSA” and the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) posted below provide basic information about the law.
- Request for Information on Break Time for Nursing Mothers , Federal Register 75: 80073-80079, (2010, December 21): This notice is a request for information from the public regarding the recent amendment to the FLSA that requires employers to provide reasonable break time and a place for nursing mothers to express breast milk for one year after the child’s birth. The Department seeks information and comments for its review as it considers how best to help employers and employees understand the requirements of the law.
- Presidential Memorandum for the Director of the Office of Personnel Management
- WHD Fact Sheet #73, Break Time for Nursing Mothers under the FLSA
- Break Time for Nursing Mothers FAQs
- Break Time for Nursing Mothers under the FLSA (Microsoft® PowerPoint®)
- FLSA Handy Reference Guide
- How to File a Complaint
- The Business Case for Breastfeeding: Steps for Creating a Breastfeeding Friendly Worksite
- CDC Healthier Worksite Initiative, Workplace Lactation Support Program Toolkit
- EEOC Enforcement Guidance: Unlawful Disparate Treatment of Workers with Caregiving Responsibilities
- National Conference of State Legislatures Compilation of State Breastfeeding Laws
- U.S. Breastfeeding Committee, Workplace Support and Coalitions Directory
- International Lactation Consultants Association, Worksite Lactation Support Directory
- The Surgeon General's Call to Action to Support Breastfeeding