One of the lesser-known elements of the new health care bill: mandatory breaks for breast-feeding mothers (apparently, there’s no corresponding breaks for fathers). It applies to all employers with 50 or more employees. It doesn’t give much guidance, though. For instance, it doesn’t say how many breaks must be provided or how long the breaks must be. After watching my wife feed many babies, I realize each baby is different when it comes to feeding times. Something tells me most of the babies that are fed under this exemption will be very slow and frequent feeders.

The statute:

(1) An employer shall provide—

(A) a reasonable break time for an employee to express breast milk for her nursing child for 1 year after the child’s birth; and

(B) 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.

(2) An employer shall not be required to compensate an employee receiving reasonable break time under paragraph (1) for any work time spent for such purpose.

(3) An employer that employs less than 50 employees shall not be subject to the requirements of this subsection, if such requirements would impose an undue hardship by causing the employer significant difficulty or expense when considered in relation to the size, financial resources, nature, or structure of the employer’s business.

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