A guide to help supervisors and managers work with their employees on taking time to express milk during the work day.
Syracuse University is committed to supporting the health and well-being of new parents and their babies. The following guidelines are in support of the rights of nursing mothers to pump breast milk at work [PDF].
Time for expressing milk
- Lactating employees may make a written request for time away from work and a private space for lactation by contacting their Senior Human Resources Business Partner or their supervisor. Upon receipt of the employee’s request, within a reasonable time frame, not to exceed five days, the Senior HR Business Partner and/or the supervisor will make reasonable efforts to provide a private space for lactation to the employee.
- When making arrangements with employees, it is important to be aware that no two women will necessarily require the same amount of time to pump. Additionally, the amount of time a woman needs to pump may vary depending on the time of day.
Space for expressing milk
- A supervisor or Senior Human Resources Business Partner should help facilitate conversations around finding a private place to express milk.
- Setting up a lactation room can be accomplished with minimal investment in space and cost.
- University lactation spaces
Examples of reasonable spaces for expressing milk
- Any designated lactation room on the University’s campus.
- A private office that can be secured and is visually private.
- A small, unused conference room that can be secured and is visually private.
- An area within a restroom that is separated from the restroom facility by a door.
- Please be aware that in the absence of a door separating the room, a public restroom is not an appropriate place to pump.
- Setting up a lactation space can be accomplished with minimal investment in space and cost.