A New York state law requiring employers to provide 30 minutes of paid break time to express breast milk is now in effect.
As of Wednesday, employees who have a reasonable need to express breast milk up to three years following childbirth will be provided with 30 minutes of paid break time to pump their breast milk.
Under this new law, employees can also still use existing paid break time or mealtime in addition to their 30-minute break time for breast milk expression.
“As New York’s first mom Governor, I am fighting every day to give working parents the protections they need to keep their families strong and healthy,” Gov. Kathy Hochul said in a statement. “From our nation-leading prenatal leave program to this legislation requiring employers to give breastfeeding mothers much-needed break time, our state is continuing to stand up for parents in the workplace and protect maternal and child health.”
Comprehensive information about employee rights and employer requirements regarding breast milk expression in the workplace is available on the New York State Department of Labor’s (NYSDOL) dedicated resource page.
