Lactation/breastfeeding procedures for employees

Statement

For up to one year after the child's birth, any MSU employee who is breastfeeding will be provided reasonable times and locations to express breast milk.  Employees will be provided with a place to express breast milk, other than a bathroom, that is shielded from view and free from intrusion from coworkers and the public.

Guidance

Non-exempt employees

Non-exempt employees may take reasonable break time each time such employee has need to express milk.  Breaks of more than 20 minutes in length will be unpaid, and recorded on timesheets where appropriate.  The only exception is when an employee receives permission to work during the break; in that case, they must be paid.

Exempt employees

Exempt employees may take reasonable break time each time such employee has need to express milk.  Because the salaries of exempt employees are not deducted because of the variations in the quality or quantity of work, when exempt employees take pump breaks, their salaries may not be reduced to reflect this break time.

Procedures

The location provided must be functional as a space for expressing breast milk. If the space is not dedicated to the nursing employee’s use, it must be available when needed by the employee in order to meet the statutory requirement.  A space temporarily created or converted into a space for expressing breast milk or made available when needed by the nursing employee is sufficient, provided that the space is shielded from view and free from any intrusion from co-workers and the public.

Michigan State University has designated lactation rooms across campus for this purpose; the Work Life Office maintains a map of the location, contact person and hours for each room.

Contact

Please contact WorkplaceAccommodations@hr.msu.edu with questions.