Yale University is a family-friendly employer that supports the well-being of new parents and their babies. Yale is committed to supporting lactating parents as they transition back to work. The Yale Work + Life Office encourages lactating parents to meet with their supervisor and Human Resources business partner to discuss a plan for their return to work while continuing to breast or chest feed.
The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) requires employers to give reasonable break time for an employee to express breast milk for their nursing child up to one year of the child’s birth each time such employee needs to express the milk. Employees are entitled to a place to pump at work, other than a bathroom, which is shielded from view and free from intrusion from coworkers and the public. The law includes the PUMP for Nursing Mothers Act (“PUMP Act”), and more information about supporting employees can be found on the U.S. Department of Labor website.
Connecticut’s labor law (CGS § 31-40w) prohibits employers from discriminating against, disciplining, or taking any adverse employment action against an employee who, at her discretion, expresses breast milk or breastfeeds on site at her workplace during her meal or break period. In addition, the statute requires employers to make reasonable efforts to provide a room or other location (other than a toilet stall) near the work area where an employee can express her milk privately.
Research has proven that breast/chest feeding is vital in giving newborns a healthy start on life and maintaining moms’ wellbeing. Therefore, it is important that employees who can breast/chest feed their newborns have a welcoming and supportive environment when they return to work.
Yale Lactation Room Locations
Yale University provides lactation rooms to support faculty, staff, and students who are lactating. Each room provides private space for lactation. If you need further assistance, please contact the Yale Work + Life Office at worklife@yale.edu. Visit the Lactation Rooms at Yale web page for a list of lactation rooms and their locations on campus.
Supporting Lactating Employees
Yale University promotes a supportive, respectful, and healthy work environment for all employees, including those who are lactating and breast/chest feeding.
Supporting breast or chest feeding enhances the physical and mental well-being of both mom and baby. The benefits are life lasting and the support for individual’s are minimal:
Privacy
Lactating individuals need a quiet private space for expressing milk. High traffic areas with a lot of background noise may have a physiological impact on the ability to express milk in a timely manner.
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 trash 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.
Flexibility
Allowing ample time to express milk during the workday provides a welcoming environment for 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.
- 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.
Providing a flexible work schedule that allows returning lactating employees time to express milk, when needed, supports them in their choice to breast or chest feed their baby and helps reduce anxiety they may experience when returning to work.
Support
Employees that experience resistance in the workplace sometimes discontinue breast or chest feeding earlier than planned or hesitate to seek assistance from their supervisor. A positive and accepting environment from upper management, supervisors and coworkers boosts their confidence in their ability to return to work while breast or chest feeding their newborn.