HR-49: NURSING MOTHERS IN THE WORKPLACE ACT 

Purpose

To comply with the Nursing Mothers in the Workplace Act, 820 ILCS 260/1 – 99.

Scope

This policy applies to all employees.

Authority

Office of the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and Provost

Policy

The University will make reasonable efforts to provide a location, other than a restroom, within close proximity to an employee’s work area, for an employee who is a nursing mother to express breast milk in privacy. The University shall also provide reasonable unpaid break time each day for nursing mothers who need to express breast milk.

Processes/Procedures/Guidelines

To invoke this policy, an employee must make a request in advance to the employee’s manager/supervisor for reasonable break time away from work to express milk. If possible, such unpaid break time will be concurrent with any break time already provided to such employee. The manager/supervisor will respond to the request by providing reasonable break time away from work and making reasonable efforts to provide a private, clean, and comfortable location, other than a restroom, close to the employee’s work area.

The location provided may be temporarily created or converted, but must include:

1. a door with a lock and covered windows;
2. a place to sit and a flat surface other than the floor to place a pump; and
3. access to electricity and lighting.

Managers/supervisors are encouraged to contact the appropriate campus Human Resources office (as noted below) for guidance in determining appropriate accommodations under this policy.

Exceptions

There are no exceptions to this policy.

Contact

For questions regarding applying this policy , contact Illinois Human Resources, Labor & Employee Relations, at (217) 333-3105.