Nursing Mothers in the Workplace Breastfeeding Policy

Purpose
To provide reasonable break time for nursing employees to express breast milk.

Scope
This policy applies to all nursing employees at Wilkes University

Policy
A nursing employee will be provided reasonable break time to breast feed or express breast milk for her nursing child for the first year of the child’s life.  These break periods will be given each time the employee has need to breastfeed or express breast milk.

There are two lactation rooms on campus:  Passan Hall, 1st floor conference room and the Public Safety Office, women’s’ locker room.  These rooms are provided as a private and sanitary place for nursing employees to breast feed or express their milk during work hours. These rooms provide an electrical outlet, comfortable chair, and nearby access to running water.  To reserve the use of the employee lactation room, call extension 4730 or 4999.  Employees may use their private office area for breastfeeding or milk expression, if they prefer.

A refrigerator will be made available for safe storage of expressed breast milk in the lactation rooms.  Employees may use their own cooler packs to store expressed breast milk.  Employees should provide their own containers, clearly labeled with name and date. Those using the University provided refrigerators are responsible for keeping them clean.

All employees are expected to provide an atmosphere of support for breastfeeding employees.

Policy Implementation
The Human Resources Director and the applicable department management are responsible for coordinating the implementation of this policy and for providing guidance on the interpretation of specific policy requirements.

Contact:
Name - Joseph Housenick, Human Resources Director
Phone - 408-4631

Policy No.  606  Effective Date:  9/22/2010  Revision Date: