At The College of Wooster, we understand how important it is to be supportive of our faculty and staff, and we are committed to providing support throughout the pregnancy and breastfeeding journey. Providing lactation accommodations aligns with The College of Wooster’s philosophy to support faculty and staff balance school, work and their personal lives.
Section 7 of the Fair Labor Standards Act and the Providing Urgent Maternal Protections for Nursing Mothers Act (PUMP Act) requires employers to provide reasonable break time to express breast milk throughout the workday.
- For up to one years after the child’s birth, a nursing mother should receive a break as needed to express milk.
- Employees should communicate their needs to their manager and appropriately plan to accommodate the needs for expressing milk. It is important to plan in advance, as well as communicate any changes needed.
- Managers should ensure that when an employee is using break time at work to express breast milk they either:
- Must be completely relieved from duty; or
- Must be paid for the break time.
- Employers are required to provide a place, other than a bathroom, which is shielded from view and free from intrusion from coworkers and the public, which may be used by an employee to express breast milk.
- If there are issues or concerns with available space in the work area, contact Human Resources.
The break time requirement became effective when the Affordable Care Act was signed into law on March 23, 2010. The United States Department of Labor, Wage and Hour created frequently asked questions to provide guidance on breaks for nursing mothers. More resources and guidance for nursing mothers can be found by visiting the DOL website.
Lactation Spaces
The College of Wooster has two lactation spaces on campus. The Parent Room is in Lowry room 257 and Morgan Hall room 300 is also a lactation room. Please reach out to Human Resources for access to either room. Faculty and staff are encouraged to contact their HR Business Partner to identify a space that best suits the needs of the employee and business operation.
If updates are needed to these locations, please email Human Resources.
Establishing a Lactation Space
Employing units/departments are ultimately responsible for implementing and maintaining lactation space for their employees in partnership with human resources and facilities operations.
If you have questions regarding the guidance set forth, or you want to report new or updated lactation space location, please submit that information at Human Resources and HR Employee will ensure to update the website.
Lactation space requirements
- Have a door which can be locked from the inside.
- If room contains windows, provide blinds, shades or other accommodations to prohibit views into the room.
- Provide accessible electrical outlets.
- Room should meet acceptable environmental requirements (heating, cooling, lighting, etc.) equivalent to what is provided in other occupied areas of the building.
- Size of the room should accommodate at least a comfortable (washable) chair and a table or shelf.
- Access to a clean sink. If a sink is not provided in the room, a clean sink should be available nearby.