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Lactation Accommodation Policy Background
To assist the transition of women from maternity leave back to work following the birth of a child, lactation accommodation is provided. Lactation accommodation allows a nursing mother to express milk periodically during the work day. The American Academy of Pediatrics, long time advocates of breastfeeding, recently updated their research and findings about the beneficial impact of breastfeeding on the health of both the mother and the child.
It is in the best interests of the employee, her workplace, and the potential health of her child that the workplace support lactation accommodation as part of our efforts to help employees experience work-life balance. Lactation accommodation also allows your company to provide equal employment opportunity to employees with family responsibilities who desire to breastfeed their child.
Lactation Accommodation Goals
Lactation accommodation goals are to:
- Ease the transition of mothers who return to work following the birth of a child.
- Enable mothers to breastfeed past the time off allotted by company PTO policies and the Family and Medical Leave Act.
- Assist mothers to attend work rather than having to take time away from work to express milk.
- Help control healthcare costs by providing the opportunity to develop a healthier infant.
- Ensure that women who are pregnant or considering pregnancy know that breastfeeding will be accommodated by their employer.
- Provide a motivating, employee-supportive work environment for all employees.
- Assist employees to experience work-life balance.
Lactation Accommodation Policy
All women who breastfeed their child, and who need to express milk during the working day, will work with their supervisor and Human Resources to determine how best to accommodate the needs of the mother while still accomplishing the performance of her job.
- Time for Lactation Accommodation: Supervisors may consider flexible working arrangements. Women may use their break and lunch time to express milk. PTO hours can also be used to express milk if needed. Breaks to express milk should not last longer than 30 minutes. If an employee needs to take more than two breaks during the work day to express milk, the employee will need to use personal time (lunch, PTO, and so on.)
- Environment for Lactation Accommodation: Human Resources will work with each nursing mother to determine a private area in which they may express milk. Milk should be placed in cooler-type containers and may be stored in company refrigerators.
Interested in knowing the laws in your state about breastfeeding and the right to express milk during the work day? This National Conference of State Legislatures resource summarizes the laws and recommendations.
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