Per a study conducted by the Pew Research Center in 2018, women at the end of their childbearing years (ages 40 – 44) are more likely now to become mothers than they were a decade ago. In conjunction, in 2016, mothers spent about 25 hours a week on paid work, compared with 9 hours per week in 1965.
With motherhood ticking up after years of decline, the new, expanded lactation room requirements for employers (with 4 or more employees are more relevant than ever.
Taking into effect in March 2019, the two bills signed by the NYC Counsel will have the following impact:
Bill, Int. No. 879-A
Employers must provide employees needing to express breast milk access to a lactation room as well as a refrigerator suitable for breast milk storage.
The room must be:
o Within reasonable proximity
o A sanitary place (other than a restroom)
o Free from intrusion.
o Additionally, the room must contain:
- An electrical outlet
- A chair
- A surface on which to place a breast pump and other items
- Nearby access to running water.
Bill, Int. No. 905-A
Employers are required to adopt a written policy regarding the rights to a lactation room, as well as the process in which employees could request said space.
Additional items include:
- A lactation room submission request process
- A requirement for the employer to respond within a reasonable about of time
- A space that the employer will provide reasonable break time for an employee to express breast milk
- Provide procedures to follow when more than one individual need to use the lactation room at the same time
The implementation and full support of these changes offers not only a safe space for mothers, but communicates a message of support and empowerment.
If you have any questions or feel that implementing these changes would cause an undue hardship for your organization, please contact your HR Representative.