Lactation Support Services
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What does the Reasonable Break Time for Nursing Mothers law do?
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How do I request assistance using lactation support services and how does it all work?
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Health Care Reform Boosts Support for Employed Breastfeeding Mothers FAQ's
What does the Reasonable Break Time for Nursing Mothers law do?
Effective immediately, in accordance with the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010, Purdue University continues to offer the lactation support program for breastfeeding women. Section 4207 states:
"An employer shall provide a reasonable break time for an employee to express breast milk for her nursing child for 1 year after the child's birth each time such employee has need to express the milk and a place, other than a bathroom, that is shielded from view and free from intrusion from coworkers and the public."
Why is breastfeeding important?
Research shows that supporting breastfeeding employees is a win-win for everyone.
Breastfeeding is not only good for health, the payoff is significant:
- lower health care costs
- lower turnover rates
- lower absenteeism rates
- higher employee productivity and morale, and
- positive public relations in the community as a 'family-friendly' institution.
How do the WorkLife Programs Lactation Support Services work?
A WorkLife Programs staff member will serve as the liaison between the employee, the respective department/building, and Employee Relations, to assist in identifying appropriate locations, scheduling, and resources. Expenses incurred to address the bill are to be funded by the respective department. Informational materials from WorkLife Programs will be provided to highlight the employee responsibilities of communication with supervisors, schedule and maintenance of milk expression areas, and milk storage.
Purdue University is not required to provide additional paid break time to breastfeeding employees. In most situations, an employee can express her milk during normal meal and break times. However, additional time may be needed and supervisors are encouraged to reasonably flex schedules to allow for these exceptions.
How do I request assistance using lactation support services and how does it all work?
At least one month prior to their maternity leave, an employee should fill out the worksite lactation support questionnaire or call 765-494-5461. Upon submission, this questionnaire is routed to the WorkLife Programs lactation support liaison.
The Lactation Support liaison will then:
- send an “Authorization for Use, Disclosure, or Release of Protected Health Information & Medical Records” form to the employee for their signature and return. This form grants the lactation support liaison permission to speak with the supervisor and employee relations representative on their behalf.
- contact the employee to discuss the specifics of their request
- contact the employee's supervisor to address the lactation space request (employee relations representative will also be notified if needed)
- visit and approve/disapprove the suggested space
- contact the employee with information on the space and how to access it
- send the employee the educational information and “occupied sign”