Work/Life Balance

Health Care Reform Package Offers Moms a Way to Pump and Work

One in three new mothers stop breastfeeding after returning to work because of the inability to pump breastmilk comfortably at the workplace. New legislation will require employers to provide a nursing lounge for working mothers and "The Reasonable Break Time for Nursing Mothers" provision will not hinder their work performance. These new laws help mothers stay productive at work while still being able to provide breastmilk to their baby. WISMAC maintains facilities for nursing mothers at UT Southwestern and affiliated hospitals.

Family and Medical Leave

The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) provides up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave (up to 26 weeks for military caregiver leave) and provides job protection and insurance premium sharing for eligible employees for medical conditions affecting the employee or a family member.

All employees of UT Southwestern are eligible for up to 12 weeks of family and medical leave during a 12-month period for certain family reasons provided they have been employed for 12 months by the State of Texas, and have worked at least 1,250 hours during the 12-month period immediately preceding the commencement of leave.

Parental Leave 

Employees not eligible for leave for the birth of a child under the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) may be eligible for leave under State Parental Leave.

Parental leave provides up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave for the birth of a child as well as the adoption or foster care placement of children under three years of age. Parental Leave begins on the day of the natural child’s birth.

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