If anyone doubts that the workplace has changed in the past four decades, they only need to look to a new addition at the Amelia headquarters of American Modern Insurance Cos., primary insurance subsidiary of Amelia-based Midland Co.

Earlier this year, the company created a mother's room for employees who are new parents. In the past, mothers who returned to work but were still breast-feeding had no place to go but to the closest restroom to pump milk through the early stages of parenting.

It has to be miserable: balancing the equipment on a knee or holding it while balancing on a toilet. There was simply no other option - and for hundreds of other women in the Tristate who have an infant at home, there is no other option.

"Midland has a high percentage of female associates and a young work force," said Joseph G. David, vice president of marketing services. "It's not a news flash that the world has evolved."

Lest anyone forget the numbers: According to Catalyst, a nonprofit research group based in New York City, 55 percent of mothers with children under the age of 1 are in the labor force. At Midland, where 800 people work, they now have a place to go.

"Mothers are working and have to juggle personal life needs and business needs," David said. He added that Midland has paid more attention to the issue and tries to provide the environment to help associates attend to their personal needs, whether it's a young mother needing to take care of nursing needs or people feeling ill and needing a place to get away.

Besides the mother's room, the company offers a sick room for employees who may need to get away to deal with a migraine or other infirmity that would chew up sick time if the employee needed to go home. The company also has had an exercise room for eight years.

Denise Rice, a senior product specialist for Midland and employed at the company since 1992, uses the mother's room daily, as her daughter, Kaitlyn, arrived Dec. 18.

"In the past, we'd go down to the sick room but you had to get a key from the Human Resources Department and, while it was more sanitary than the bathroom, it was not a real comfortable place to go," said Rice, a Loveland resident. "But at least it was private."

Mandated drug tests

In a law signed last year, Gov. Bob Taft required that all companies that want to do work for the state must enroll in the Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation's Drug-Free Workplace Program.

The Bureau of Workers' Compensation program includes a written substance abuse policy, drug/alcohol educational awareness, substance testing and assistance for all employees - and training for the supervisors - of the contractors and subcontractors.

The measure takes effect July 1.

Today's take-away

"Ambition is a dream with a V-8 engine."

- Elvis Presley, American entertainer

Appt./Mr. Green

Reeves Golf Course near Lunken Airport offers a business-day special Monday through Thursday.

Buy 18 holes of golf between noon and 2 p.m. for $20 and the course offers up a free gas cart to make sure you finish your round in time for a return to the office by late afternoon.

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Email jeckberg@enquirer.com