Jul 5, 2023 | HR, New York Labor Law, Employee Benefits
August is National Breastfeeding Month, which makes it an ideal time to address lactation accommodations in the workplace. Employers have a legal and ethical responsibility to aid their breastfeeding staff. Providing lactation accommodations helps to create a supportive work environment, which in turn boosts employee retention rates, morale, and productivity.
What are Lactation Accommodations?
Lactation accommodations are adjustments employers make to provide a comfortable space for nursing employees to express milk during work hours. These accommodations include time for employees to express milk and a private space that is not a bathroom each time they need to pump. Local Law 185 and Local Law 186 (both passed in 2018) require that employers provide lactation accommodations, including a lactation room or other location close to the employee's work area where they can pump breast milk. The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) also requires employers to provide reasonable break time for an employee to express breast milk for their nursing child for one year after birth.
Benefits of Lactation Accommodations
Providing lactation accommodations has many benefits in the workplace. Studies have shown that companies supporting breastfeeding employees experience higher retention rates, improved morale among staff members, and increased productivity due to reduced absenteeism. Additionally, providing these policies can help create an inclusive environment demonstrating your company’s commitment to supporting all families.
Examples of Successful Policies
Many examples of companies have successfully implemented lactation accommodation policies and seen positive results from them. For example, Google created “Mother’s Rooms” at their offices worldwide, which offer comfortable seating areas with refrigerators nearby so mothers can store expressed milk until they go home. Microsoft also offers flexible scheduling options so mothers can adjust their working hours if needed while meeting deadlines. These companies demonstrate how successful lactation accommodation policies can be when implemented correctly.
Tips on How Companies Can Support Their Breastfeeding Employees
Companies should ensure they meet all legal requirements when providing lactation accommodations, such as private spaces near the employee's work area where they can pump breast milk without interruption or intrusion from coworkers or supervisors. Additionally, companies should consider flexible scheduling options so employees can adjust their working hours if needed while still meeting deadlines and providing resources such as educational materials about breastfeeding or access to online support groups for new mothers returning to work after maternity leave.
By going above and beyond the basic requirements for supporting breastfeeding employees in the workplace, your company can demonstrate its commitment to creating an inclusive environment that promotes the success of all employees, regardless of their family status or background.