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3.24.2009

Breast Milk Pumping in the Workplace

On Monday the Labor Committee voted unanimously to pass the nursing bill out of committee, and send it to the House floor for the big vote. Here is the text of the bill that they passed (I think it’s pretty good):

An employer, including the state of Maine and its subdivisions, shall provide adequate unpaid break time or permit an employee to use paid break time or meal time each day to allow an employee to express breast milk for her nursing child for up to three years following child birth. The employer shall make reasonable efforts to provide a clean room or other location, other than a bathroom, in close proximity to the work area, where an employee may express milk in privacy. No employer shall discriminate in any way against an employee who chooses to express breast milk in the work place.

3.13.2009

Why Network?

Locally I participate in two networks designed to meet the needs of women in business. One is a statewide group, the Maine Women's Network, which has 3 chapters and the other is a local group, the CamRock Network. This is a lot of people contact for someone who is basically an introvert. It took me a while to feel comfortable in this role but now I find that I actually enjoy it. I have gotten to know, like and trust women that otherwise I might not have ever known. And I've had a zillion needs and interests met locally.

Through my connection to these groups, I've found:
  • a fabulous financial advisor
  • a realtor to help my mom buy a house in Maine
  • a programmer who solved most of my shopping cart concerns
  • customers who bought training pants, diapers and gift certificates
  • lots and lots of wonderful babysitters
  • a realtor who helped my best friend buy a house just a few miles away
  • an insurance agent who is funny and prompt
  • an editor who encouraged me to write a column for a local paper
  • other moms with connections to adoption
  • a diverse group of women who are rooting for Buzzie Bee Diapers to keep growing!
Interested in joining me at a networking event? I'd love to share this... just contact me and we'll work out the details.

Check out the CamRock blog on Village Soup