What's "reasonable"?

More and more states are enacting laws mandating companies to provide time at work for new mothers to be able to pump.  The language states that workplaces must provide "reasonable time" for the new moms to do so.  But the question is, what constitutes "resonable time"?  How often a day does the company have to provide it?  And, should that time be considered paid or unpaid?  OK, let's take one at a time.

How long should a company give a nursing mom to pump?  Many lactation consultants say a woman needs around 15-20 minutes to pump. My fear is, that unless this is specifically stated in the law, many companies will use their own interpretation as to what's "reasonable".  Laws need to lay out specifics or they're not worth the paper they're written on.

As for how often new moms need to pump, that depends on each mother's body.  But experts say generally, a nursing mom will need to pump 2-3 times during an 8-hour shift.

Paid or unpaid?  Give me a break.  I can't even beleive this is up for discussion.  Paid, of course!  Any company that wants to dock a new mom for time spent pumping is surely not fostering good morale or loyalty.  A happy worker is a productive worker.  Let's be a little forward-thinking here, can we?  Most people will want to be more productive for their company if they feel it's bending over backwards to accomodate their needs. 

Check out the poll question this week, and cast your vote on what constitutes "reasonable".