Lactation Support Services

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”

Lactation support in the workplace: Frequently Asked Questions (download PDF)

• What is Senate Bill 0219?

• What accommodations are employers encouraged to provide?

• Our company is short on space and we don’t have a lot of money to build lactation rooms. What do we need to do to comply with the bill?

• Why is giving breast milk so important?

• Why does an employee need to pump her milk at work?

• How often does an employee need to pump her milk?

• Wouldn’t it be easier for a woman to stop breastfeeding when she returns to work?

• I am concerned about employees storing breast milk in the company’s refrigerator. What are our liabilities and responsibilities?

• How does this law benefit our company?

• What are some positive results our company can expect when we implement the bill?

• This all sounds good. How do we know if our company has any employees who are breastfeeding?

• Are all companies providing lactation support?

• I think our company can do more to support our employees who are breastfeeding. What are some suggestions?