As part of our family-friendly policies and benefits, the Metropolitan Library System (“Library”) supports breastfeeding employees by accommodating employees who need to express breast milk during the workday.

The Library will provide the employee with an adequate location, other than a restroom, for the expression of breast milk for up to two years after the birth of the employee’s child.  The Library will make a reasonable effort to provide a room or other location near the work area where an employee can express her milk in privacy.

Breaks for expressing milk shall be agreed upon by the employee and the Human Resources Department.  The employee may take a 15 to 20-minute break in the morning and a 15 to 20minute break in the afternoon.  The employee shall utilize the normal unpaid meal break to express milk mid-day. The morning and afternoon breaks will be “on the clock” unless the break exceeds 20 minutes. Should an employee require additional or longer breaks, the employee should contact the Human Resources Department. Discrimination, harassment, and/or retaliation in any form is unacceptable and will not be tolerated.

PROCEDURES

1. An employee who desires to have a private location in which to express breast milk is asked to make their request to their supervisor or Human Resources in advance of their anticipated need. This notice period will allow adequate time to identify an appropriate space. 
2. The Library will provide an accessible room (other than a restroom) where the employee can express breast milk in privacy.  Upon receipt of the request, the supervisor must contact and coordinate with Human Resources so that a suitable private location near the employee’s work area can be identified.
3. A reasonable effort will be made to provide a room that has accessible electrical outlets for electric breast pump use.
4. A reasonable effort will be made to provide a room that is located near a sink for washing hands and rinsing pump parts.
5. A sign posting the room as “private” during use must be used. 
6. Reasonable effort will be made to utilize a room with a door lock. However, if a lockable room is not available, measures will be taken to prevent access during use, such as blocking access to the room.
7. The employee will be responsible for the safe storage of breast milk by bringing a small cooler or insulated food container or other similar means of storage.  Library refrigerators may be used if the milk is clearly labeled with name and date.  If the refrigerator is used, the milk must be taken home daily.