March 2018 | The Sliding Door Company

Why You Need a Breastfeeding Room in the Workspace, and How to Create One

Women who return to work after childbirth face a number of obstacles, including the need to breastfeed their babies or, at least, to pump milk so that their child can have access to fresh nourishment. In order to help them transition back from pregnancy to a regular work schedule, lawmakers have stepped in and demanded that employers provide a helping hand by creating a dedicated breastfeeding room in the workspace.

Why Are Employers Required to Provide Breastfeeding Facilities?

A breastfeeding room is more than a mere convenience for women who are returning to work after delivering their babies; it’s the law. Under the Affordable Care Act, employers must create a separate room in which women can breastfeed or pump milk.
Various state laws also make provisions for breastfeeding. The goal is to make the workspace a more hospitable place for everyone, and smart employers should treat the guidelines as an opportunity rather than a burden.
For starters, they must allow women to take breastfeeding breaks for up to one year after they give birth. Not only that, but they must also provide mothers a separate space in which they can express milk.
It doesn’t matter how big or small the business is. The law applies to every workplace, with only one exception—companies with less than 50 employees if they can prove they would suffer “undue hardship” if made to comply.

Lactation Room Guidelines

Lactation room requirements for employers aren’t onerous, but the government does expect employers to follow a few basic standards for every lactation room at work. It cannot be a bathroom, but it need not be a permanent area, either. It must be private, clean, and close to the workspace. It must also be available whenever a woman needs to breastfeed.
In other words, you can’t repurpose a bathroom stall and call it a “breastfeeding room.” You can’t open up a broom closet and force women to pump milk in unsanitary conditions. You can’t locate the room a mile away, at another facility, and expect your employees to hike long distances every time they need to pump milk.
So, how can a business comply with federal requirements for lactation rooms? What do they need to make their employees’ lives easier and their businesses run smoother?

Finding the Best Lactation Room Designs

The simplest and best solution is to erect a breastfeeding room divider made of smoked, frosted, black, or laminated glass. By installing a partition, employers can skip the hassle. No need to renovate existing rooms. No need to construct new ones. The best part is that a glass partition offers privacy, cleanliness, and ease of access—all in one package.
Behind the partition, employers can include as many amenities as they want—sinks, mirrors, couches, pump outlets, refrigerators etc. With room dividers from Space Plus, a division of The Sliding Door Company, employers have even more options. They can install a lock on the door so women know they can breastfeed without worrying that others will be barging in. They can order a door with black opaque glass for maximum privacy. With us, businesses also can get a beautiful design, easy installation, and ADA-compliant handles and locks.
Want to find out how your business can use our high-quality glass room dividers to help empower women in the workforce? Take a look at our catalog to see what we have to offer.

Slide or Swing into Spring with The Sliding Door Company!

Spring is here. The flowers are blooming. The sun is shining. The birds are chirping. People all over the country are pulling out their brooms, vacuums, and dusters—but why stop there? This spring, don’t just clean your house. Reimagine it. Set your sights a little higher and create the home of your dreams with gorgeous new sliding or swing doors from TSDC!

Tis the Season for Renewal

They call it home building season for a reason. Spring is the time when builders come out of hibernation and homeowners yearn for something new—but you don’t need to call a construction crew in order to make a stunning change.
If you want to give your home a nice spring makeover without throwing your life into disarray, consider a humble interior design project—new paint, new furniture, new décor, new pillows, new doors. Yes, doors. Homeowners often overlook doors when planning their interiors, yet they offer some of the best returns on investment.
Indeed, adding custom doors is one of the most powerful ways to transform an interior. Easy to install, they nonetheless have a profound impact on the look and feel and of a home, particularly if you swap out traditional doors for glass doors or even for sliding glass doors, which let in light, free up space, and increase visibility, all while adding charm and beauty.
Before you get started, think about what type of door you want: sliding or swinging?

Why Slide It?

People choose sliding interior doors for all sorts of reasons. They’re beautiful. They’re quiet. They’re safe. They’re modern. Best of all, they save tons of space. The best sliding glass doors can transform a dark, crowded room into a bright, spacious, stylish space with minimal investment.
They’re also safe. When you order from The Sliding Door Company, you also never have to worry that your doors could leave their tracks. Designed to slide smoothly, quietly, and securely, our doors are as functional and safe as they are gorgeous. We even offer the Smart Shut System which ensures a slow close so the doors never bang against the side walls!

Why Swing It?

Sliding doors have revolutionized interior design, but they’ll never replace traditional swing doors. Still, that doesn’t mean you have to stick with the same old conventional, wooden doors that have been around since time began.
Instead, why not go with something a little more creative, more interesting, and more up-to-date? You can bring a contemporary touch to any interior with doors made of tempered glass. Want privacy? Customize your doors with smoked or frosted glass. Need visibility? Stick with clear glass or select from the glass opacity of your choice. Either way, you can increase the flow of light by opting for glass instead of wood.

Why Order from The Sliding Door Company?

It’s simple.

We build to your project’s specific needs!
We offer safety you can trust!
We maintain quality always and everywhere!!

Want to find out what our doors can do for your interior home or office? Call now for a free consultation with one of our happy, friendly sliding door experts or find a showroom near you and drop on by! Happy Spring!