Nursing Parent Policy

Effective Date

June 12, 2017

Last Revision Date

June, 2023 

Responsible Party

Human Resources

Scope

All employees  

Purpose 

Marymount University (“University”) provides a supportive environment to enable breastfeeding faculty and staff to express their milk during work hours. It is expected that all employees will assist in providing a positive atmosphere of support for breastfeeding employees.

1.0  Application

1.1  Milk Expression Breaks

  1. For one year after the child’s birth, employees may take reasonable break time each time such employee has a need to express the milk.  
  2. The employee shall not be denied a needed break to pump.
  3. The frequency and duration of breaks needed to express milk will likely vary depending on factors related to the nursing employee and the child.

1.2   A Place to Express Milk

A private room (not a toilet stall or restroom) shall be available for employees to breastfeed or express milk. The room will be private and sanitary, located near a sink with running water for washing hands and rinsing out breast pump parts, and have an electrical outlet. If preferred an employee may also breastfeed or express milk in their individual offices, or in other comfortable locations agreed upon in consultation with her manager. 

Lactation Rooms Available on Marymount Campus

  • Main Campus:  St. Joseph Hall, 1st Floor, Human Resources 
  • Ballston Campus:  Ball 2032
  • 4040 N. Fairfax Dr.: Room 213

2.0  Employee Responsibilities

2.1  Communication with Managers

Employees who wish to express milk during the work period shall keep managers informed of their needs so that appropriate accommodations can be made to satisfy the needs of both the employee and the university. When more than one breastfeeding employee needs to use the designated lactation room, a sign-in log may be used for scheduling.

2.2   Maintenance of Milk Expression Areas

Employees who are breastfeeding are responsible for keeping milk expression areas clean, using antimicrobial wipes to clean the pump and area around it. Employees using the general lactation room or other spaces for expressing milk are responsible for keeping the space clean for the next user.

2.3  Milk Storage

Employees should label all milk expressed with their name and date collected so it is not inadvertently confused with another employee’s milk. Each employee is responsible for proper storage of milk using provided refrigerator/personal storage coolers.

3.0  Manager Responsibilities

Managers are responsible for alerting employees who are pregnant and breastfeeding about the University’s policies and practices that will help facilitate each employee’s infant feeding goals.