Break Time for Nursing Employees at MU Health Care

Procedures and guidelines to follow to ensure employees are able to take appropriate breaks to express breast milk.

MU Health Care is committed to ensuring that nursing employees receive reasonable breaks to express breast milk for one (1) year after the nursing child's birth in accordance with UM HR-521: Break Time for Nursing Mothers.

If you are an employee who needs breaks to express breast milk, the best first step is to discuss your needs with your direct leader. If your request is not resolved after discussing the issue with your leader, you may Submit a Request for Advice/Guidance from Employee Relations. 

As a leader, if you learn that an employee needs break time to express breast milk, follow these steps:

1. Have a private discussion with the employee to learn more about the frequency and duration of breaks needed.
   • If you feel the requested break time will create an undue hardship, consult with Employee Relations as soon as possible, and before taking any action. You may request guidance by clicking here. 
   • Based on guidance from Employee Relations, you will be best equipped to make the final decision on the requested break time and inform the employee.
      
2. Once you have established duration and frequency, take steps to ensure an appropriate location will be available at the agreed upon times. 
   • The space should be private, free from intrusion (via inside lock or signage indicating the room is in use), and should not be a bathroom.
   • A list of available lactation rooms is available as an attachment to these guidelines in Navex. (Once you have the document open in Navex, click on the "Attachments" link in the upper right-hand corner).
   • If there are no dedicated lactation rooms available, alternative spaces (such as offices) may be used as long as they are private, free from intrusion, and are not a bathroom. 
   • Remember to always develop a backup plan in case an additional break is needed, or if the planned location is unexpectedly unavailable.
      
3. If the employee will be relieved of all work duties during breaks, they should clock out at an approved time clock when they start their break to express breast milk, and they should clock back in and resume working when they are finished. 
   • If the employee will not be relieved of all work duties during breaks, they should not be instructed to clock out. If you are unsure about pay procedures, please Consult with Employee Relations.
   • Ensure staff are aware of appropriate hand-off procedures to ensure needs of patients, visitors, and other community members are met.