ADMINISTRATIVE POLICY
Benefits
Policy Statement
Tulane is committed to supporting the health and well-being of new parents and their babies. In recognition of the needs of nursing parents, the university implemented this policy which provides a reasonable accommodation for an employee to express breastmilk during the work hours for their nursing child for one year after the child’s birth.
Purpose and Scope
The purpose of this policy is to provide employees with information to support the health and wellbeing nursing parents. The policy describes the reasonable accommodations available to nursing parents, including when an employee may take time needed to express milk as well as providing the locations throughout campus designated for nursing parents.
Applicability of this Policy
This policy is available to all employees. It is the responsibility of all employees to review this policy and adhere to the guidelines provided. Managers are encouraged to review this policy with employees as applicable.
Contacts
Definitions
Break time: A lunch period is an unpaid break of at least thirty (30) minutes and not more than sixty (60) minutes. During this period, you are relieved of duty, and this time is your own. Your supervisor will inform you of your lunch period schedule. Supervisors are authorized to permit rest periods during the workday. At your supervisor’s discretion, you may be granted a fifteen (15) minute paid rest period during each half day you work.
Reasonable accommodation: A reasonable accommodation is any change to the application or hiring process, to the job, to the way the job is done, or the work environment that allows a person with a disability who is qualified for the job to perform the essential functions of that job and enjoy equal employment opportunities. Accommodations are considered “reasonable” if they do not create an undue hardship or a direct threat.
Policy and Procedures
The Tulane Breastfeeding Program (TBP) is a campus-wide initiative to protect, promote and support nursing employees. Tulane University provides lactation support through multiple lactation rooms on campus and a policy for staff that complies with the law. The purpose of the program is to:
- Increase awareness on Tulane's campus of the importance of breastfeeding to the child, parent, infant, workplace and society.
- Implement and evaluate strategies necessary to create a breastfeeding-friendly environment and encourage exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of an infant's life with continued breastfeeding for at least one year.
Tulane will provide a reasonable break time for an employee to express breast milk for their nursing child for one year after the child’s birth. The break should be taken, when possible, concurrently with other break periods already provided. In accordance with applicable state law, non-exempt employees may be required to clock out for time taken that does not run concurrently with other break periods and such time will be unpaid.
Tulane will provide a place, other than a bathroom, that is shielded from view and free from intrusion from coworkers and the public, which may be used by an employee to express breast milk. The list of Campus Lactation/Family rooms is found on the Office of Human Resources and Institutional Equity website.
Employees should notify their supervisor to request time to express milk in accordance with this policy.
Consequence of Violating the Policy
Violation of this policy may result in disciplinary action, up to and including termination. For consequences of violating the policy refer to the Faculty and Staff handbooks found at policy.tulane.edu.
Relevant Information
Tulane Breastfeeding Program website: https://hr.tulane.edu/content/tulane-breastfeeding-program
Other Relevant Information
Pregnancy Leave
Parental Leave Policy
Breaks
