As a new mother in Fort Lauderdale, you no doubt cherish those first few months that you have to bond with your new baby. Going back to work once your maternity leave has ended can be extremely difficult, yet not simply due to having to leave your baby. If you are nursing your newborn, then the task of storing breastmilk when your baby is not eating is vital. Postpartum lactation is often a difficult subject to address, and you (like many others that we here at The Law Office of Michelle Cohen Levy, PA have worked with) may feel self-conscious about bringing it up with your employer. Yet the law recognizes your needs, and has put protections in place to help you while you are at work.
You might assume that your right to store breastmilk while at work is afforded under the Family and Medical Leave Act, yet it is actually another federal law that endows this privilege. The Fair Labor Standards Act was amended in 2010 to include a Break Time for Nursing Mothers provision. In this provision, it states that your employer is required to allow you break time to express breastmilk (as needed) for up to one year after the birth of your baby. In addition, you must be provided a space to do so (other than a bathroom in your workplace) that is shielded from view and free from any potential intrusions from both coworkers and the public.
One important point to remember about this provision is that only companies that employ more than 50 people are required to adhere to it. You can discover more information about your workplace rights as a new mother by continuing to explore our site.