Lactation Policy

Columbia University will provide reasonable break time each time an employee has a reasonable need to express breast milk.

For up to three years following the birth of a child, the first 30 minutes of each break will be paid; if more than 30 minutes is reasonably needed to complete expressing breast milk, the employee may either (a) use existing paid break time or meal time to supplement the break, or (b) unpaid break time, to extend the break. The break time is inclusive of time needed to travel to and from the lactation space, and to set up, clean, and pack up pumping equipment.

After three years following the birth of a child, employees are allowed to use reasonable unpaid break time and their normal breaks or meal times to express breast milk during work hours.

Columbia University maintains dedicated lactation rooms as well as “multi-purpose spaces” (as explained below) that may be used for lactation.

Employees who wish to use their usual workspace to express breast milk (e.g., office) may do so—regardless of the availability of lactation rooms—as long as it does not create an undue hardship for the University.

1. Dedicated Lactation Rooms

The Office of Work/Life maintains dedicated lactation rooms on most University campuses. Additionally, certain University Departments maintain their own lactation rooms.  A directory of all these spaces can be found on the Office of Work/Life website.

At a minimum, each dedicated lactation room is:

• clean
• well-lit
• separate from bathrooms
• shielded from view
• free from intrusion from others
• located near running water
• equipped with:
  • an electrical outlet
  • a chair
  • a surface to place a pump and other personal items

Some lactation rooms have a refrigerator to store breast milk. If an employee’s lactation room does not have a refrigerator, the employee may store breast milk in a refrigerator reasonably close to the lactation room or the employee’s work area or in a personal cooler. Employees are required to store all expressed milk in closed containers, regardless of the method of storage, and to bring it home after their shift. Columbia is not responsible for ensuring the safekeeping of expressed milk stored in any refrigerator on its premises.

All lactation rooms maintained by the Office of Work/Life and some lactation rooms maintained by departments are additionally equipped with a hospital-grade pump. Pump attachments are not provided but may be purchased through the Office of Work/Life or a retailer. For additional information regarding compatible pump parts, including how to purchase the parts, see the Office of Work/Life website.

2. Multi-Purpose Spaces for Lactation

If a dedicated lactation room is not within reasonable proximity to an employee’s primary work location, the employee should contact the Office of Work/Life. The Office of Work/Life will reach out to the appropriate local Human Resources (“HR”) representative or Building Manager to ask that they identify an appropriate alternative space, other than a bathroom, that is clean, functional for expressing breast milk, and meets as many of the other minimum requirements of a dedicated lactation room as possible.

Once a multi-purpose space is identified, the Office of Work/Life will coordinate with the appropriate local HR representative or manager to (i) notify other employees that the space will be prioritized as a lactation room and may only be used for expressing breast milk during the times when employees need the space and (ii) post proper signage to ensure that the space is free from intrusion and shielded from view of others while being used as a lactation room.

An employee’s request for an accommodation to express breast milk has two components: (a) request for time to express breast milk, which is addressed by local HR representatives, and (b) if needed, request for access to a space to express breast milk, which is addressed by the Office of Work/Life.

1. Requesting Time to Express Breast Milk

Protocols for requesting time to express breast milk are department-specific. Employees should contact their local HR representative for department-specific instructions on requesting time to express breast milk.

The local HR representative will respond to the employee’s request as quickly as possible and no later than 5 business days after receiving the request.

2. Requesting Access to Space to Express Breast Milk

Employees who need a separate space to express breast milk should submit a request to The Office of Work/Life representative by emailing [email protected] or calling 212-854-8019, ideally at least 5 days in advance of the need for the accommodation. The request should include the following information: name, uni, primary work location, and, if known, desired lactation space(s), based on which spaces are closest to the employee’s primary work location.

The Office of Work/Life will respond to the employee’s request as quickly as possible and no later than 5 business days after receiving the request.

If two or more employees need to use the same lactation space at the same time, and they are unable to reach a solution on their own (by, e.g., agreeing to share the space or create a schedule), they should contact The Office of Work/Life for assistance. The Office of Work/Life will coordinate with local HR representatives as necessary and discuss various options with the relevant employees to determine an arrangement that reasonably addresses each employee’s needs.

If the University determines that an employee’s lactation accommodation request poses an undue hardship to the University, a local HR representative will discuss reasonable alternatives with the employee to accommodate the employee’s needs, initiating a cooperative dialogue as quickly as possible, and no later than 5 business days from the date of the request.

At the conclusion of the cooperative dialogue process, local HR will issue a final written determination identifying any accommodation(s) granted or denied.

Columbia will provide notice of this policy to:

• new employees at the start of their employment;
• employees returning to work after parental leave; and
• all employees annually

The University prohibits discrimination, harassment and retaliation against any employee who chooses to express breast milk in the workplace. Any employee who believes that they have been the victim of such discrimination, harassment, or retaliation should inform Columbia’s Office of Institutional Equity. The University will investigate and take necessary corrective action where appropriate. 

Anyone who accesses a lactation space for a purpose other than to express, store, or collect their breast milk (or other authorized purpose, e.g., maintenance of the space) or who allows an unauthorized person to access a lactation space will have their access revoked and may be subject to disciplinary action.