If you’re a nursing worker in New York, your employer must accommodate your need to pump at work and provide a private space in order for you to express milk. Your employer must give you the time, space and support to pump at work.
If you are a nursing worker in New York State, you are covered, no matter the employer size and regardless of whether the employer is public or private.
Your employer must:
Note: If it would be incredibly difficult or expensive for your employer to provide a private space, they may not be obligated to provide the space.
Your employer cannot discriminate or retaliate against you for choosing to pump at work. This can include making hostile comments to you about nursing or demoting you because you need to pump.
Before you go back to work, you should tell your employer you plan to express milk when you return. That will give them time to plan for your return.
Yes, if you are a nursing worker in New York City, and work for an employer with 4 or more employees, your employer must provide you with a lactation room that meets specific requirements.
Your employer must hand out a lactation policy to all new employees upon hire.
Note: If providing the space for lactation is incredibly difficult for your employer, your employer must engage in a cooperative dialogue with you. The space need not necessarily be a dedicated lactation room but it must meet the requirements and preference must be given to nursing workers to use the space.
Visit “Pregnant in New York? A Guide to Your Workplace Rights During and After Pregnancy” for a guide to walk you through your workplace rights and options during and after pregnancy.
To download the full New York Working Woman’s Pocket Guide as a PDF, click here.