Nursing Mother / Lactation Rooms

At Ohio State, we understand how important it is to be supportive of our faculty and staff, and we are committed to providing support throughout the pregnancy and breastfeeding journey. Providing lactation accommodations aligns with Ohio State’s philosophy to support faculty and staff balance school, work and their personal lives.

In addition to lactation accommodations around Ohio State’s campuses and locations, Ohio State offers a free program through our health plan for expectant parents, paid parental leave and comprehensive benefits packages. More information about all these resources is available in the helpful links section on this page.

Since 2006, Ohio State’s leadership has implemented a plan to include lactation rooms in all newly designed and constructed buildings and to increase the current number of lactation rooms in existing buildings as well.

Section 7 of the Fair Labor Standards Act and the Providing Urgent Maternal Protections for Nursing Mothers Act (PUMP Act) requires employers to provide reasonable break time for an to express breast milk throughout the workday.

  • For up to one years after the child’s birth, a nursing mother should receive a break as needed to express milk.
  • Employees should communicate their needs to their manager and appropriately plan to accommodate the needs for expressing milk. It is important to plan in advance, as well as communicate any changes needed.
  • Managers should ensure that when an employee is using break time at work to express breast milk they either:
    • Must be completely relieved from duty; or
    • Must be paid for the break time.
  • Employers are required to provide a place, other than a bathroom, which is shielded from view and free from intrusion from coworkers and the public, which may be used by an employee to express breast milk.
  • If there are issues or concerns with available space in the work area, contact your HR Business Partner or Employee and Labor Relations. For any other accommodation needs beyond lactation, please contact Integrated Absence Management and Vocational Services.

The break time requirement became effective when the Affordable Care Act was signed into law on March 23, 2010. The United States Department of Labor, Wage and Hour created frequently asked questions to provide guidance on breaks for nursing mothers. More resources and guidance for nursing mothers can be found by visiting the DOL website.

Lactation Spaces

Ohio State has more than 60 lactation spaces identified below or through the Ohio State mobile app. This list of lactation spaces is not an exhaustive list. Faculty and staff are encouraged to contact their department/unit HR representative to identify a space that best suits the needs of the employee and business operation.

If updates are needed to these locations, please email hrconnection@osu.edu.

Establishing a Lactation Space

If there is a need to create a space for lactation, please contact the building coordinator associated with the building and/or work with university facilities regarding space and facility needs for setting up a new lactation space. Wexner Medical Center Departments should visit HealthBeat HUB for requests.

Employing units/departments are ultimately responsible for implementing and maintaining lactation space for their employees in partnership with facilities operations.

If you have questions regarding the guidance set forth, or you want to report and new or updated lactation space location, please submit that information at hrconnection.osu.edu and HR Employee and Labor Relations will ensure to update the website.

Ohio State was also featured in this video as part of resources from the Ohio Department of Health for providing lactation accommodations for employees. View the video and resources for additional information to set up appropriate space.

Lactation space requirements

  • Have a door which can be locked from the inside.
  • If room contains windows, provide blinds, shades or other accommodations to prohibit views into the room.
  • Provide accessible electrical outlets.
  • Room should meet acceptable environmental requirements (heating, cooling, lighting, etc.) equivalent to what is provided in other occupied areas of the building.
  • Size of the room should accommodate at least a comfortable (washable) chair and a table or shelf.
  • Access to a clean sink. If a sink is not provided in the room, a clean sink should be available nearby.

Additional room accommodations to consider

(discuss with building coordinator and/or facilities)

  • Sink in the room
  • Additional electrical outlets and space to accommodate the following owner-provided equipment:
    • Small refrigerator
    • Microwave for sterilizing equipment
    • Laptop or phone charging outlets.

Other considerations

  • Offer paper towels and sanitizing wipes.
  • Arrange for the room to be placed on the building’s regular cleaning schedule.
  • Identify the room with a lactation space sign.
  • Post a room usage schedule or create a Google or Outlook calendar so those who use the room can view and edit the schedule.
  • Provide a “privacy please” sign.