To support the health and well-being of both new parents and their baby, Indiana University is committed to supporting lactating employees as they return to work. When reasonably possible, units should provide a location where an employee can express breast milk in private. The location can be a room designated just for this purpose, the employee’s private office, a private office not in use, or any area other than a restroom where the employee can have privacy from others.
Additionally, employees have a right to a pump in a room that is:
- Private
- Functional for pumping milk
- Free from intrusion
- NOT a bathroom
A room as small as 4’ X 5’ with a door that locks from the inside, comfortable chair, small table or shelf, an easily accessible electrical outlet, a waste paper bin, and proper room signage is needed. It is ideal that the room is near a source of hot and cold water for washing hands, pump supplies and containers.
View the list of wellness rooms for lactating parents
Breaks for lactating employees
Allowing ample time to express milk during the workday provides a welcoming environment for a returning lactating employees. During the workday, lactating employees need to express milk about two to three times or every three hours. The act of expressing milk takes about 15-20 minutes. However, there are other factors to consider when determining a reasonable break time, including:
- The time to travel to and from the designated lactation area
- Pump set-up, clean up and storage
- Locating and accessing a sink to wash hands and supplies, if not available in the space.
Under Indiana University’s HR-11-50 policy (Lactating and Breast/Chest Feeding Employees), the time needed to express milk is paid time if it occurs during work hours. Supervisors must allow reasonable break time and flexibility to accommodate the employee’s needs.
View the Lactating and Breast/Chest Feeding Employees policy
In addition, Healthy IU offers resources and guidance for employees and supervisors regarding lactation medical benefits offered by IU, locations of wellness rooms for lactating employees, and more.
Visit the Healthy IU lactation support website
