Human Resources

Lactating Persons in the Workplace

Section: Human Resources Policies
Policy Name: Lactating Persons in the Workplace
Policy Owner: Executive Vice President
Responsible University Office: Office of Human Resources
Origination Date: July 2010
Revisions: December 2010; February 2015; March 2016; September 2018; March 2022
Legacy Policy Number: 4-110
  1. SCOPE OF POLICYThis policy addresses accommodations for lactating persons in the workplace and applies to all employees who are lactating persons.
  2. POLICY STATEMENTEmployees who are lactating persons shall be entitled to reasonable break periods during normal business hours to express milk. The University of Delaware adopts this policy to support the health and well-being of employees and their infant children by providing a workplace environment that accommodates the needs of lactating persons.
  3. POLICY STANDARDS AND PROCEDURES
    1. Each employee who is a lactating person shall have access to a suitable, private location, other than a bathroom, located in close proximity to their work area in which to take a break period under this policy. The location shall be shielded from view and free from intrusion from coworkers and the public. The following spaces on campus have been designated as Lactation Rooms: 346 Hullihen Hall, 128 Perkins Student Center, 214A McDowell Hall, 207E Morris Library, and The Tower at STAR, Room 354. All rooms operate in a first-come, first-serve manner and are available when the buildings are open. Room 128 Perkins Student Center is wheelchair/scooter accessible.
    2. The employee shall determine for themselves how long and how frequent reasonable break periods should be. Generally, a maximum of thirty minutes three times a day should be sufficient. However, depending upon where the pumping space is located, some time may be needed to travel to and from the space.
    3. When an employee makes an initial request for an accommodation under this policy, it shall be the employee’s responsibility to engage in a dialogue with their supervisor about the duration and frequency of leave required. A request for accommodation under this policy will be treated as a request for a flexible work schedule. An employee shall be entitled either to request reasonable unpaid break time or to use paid breaks or mealtimes for this purpose. Leave time granted under this policy may be made up at the beginning or end of the day on which leave is taken.
    4. The entitlement to reasonable break periods shall last until a nursing child reaches the age of twenty-four months.