UCR Lactation Accommodation Program

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Lactation Accommodation on Campus

In an effort to promote a family-friendly work environment for breastfeeding mothers, UC Riverside has expanded lactation room locations. Effective immediately, faculty, staff and students will have access to nine (9) lactation rooms and alternate options to ensure nursing mothers have access to a private space for lactation purposes.

Human Resources (HR) is collaborating with the campus community to ensure lactation rooms are located within close proximity to work locations. Four private lactation rooms are available These beautifully decorated lactation rooms are sanitary, located in a private space and have locking doors. Each room is equipped with a table, electrical outlet, mini refrigerator, microwave, comfortable chair and a multi-user hospital grade Ameda breast pump.

As the program expands, more lactation rooms will be added on campus. Please check back to find out when these conveniently located facilities will be ready.

Lactation Accommodation Resources

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Lactation
Rooms

Campus Lactation Rooms

Additional Lactation Rooms

Four restricted-access locations are available to faculty, staff and students assigned to work in the following locations:

Child Development Center (CDC-N)
- Due to the Covornavirus Pandemic, the lactation facility in the Child Development Center is temporarily closed. Please check back for more updates.
Center for Environmental Research & Technology (Ce-Cert)
UCOP IntelliCenter
Multidisciplinary Research Bldg. (MB1)

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Program
Logistics

Alternate Option - Create Your Own Lactation Space

While we are making efforts to offer additional locations, we have developed alternate options to help departments and nursing mothers create a temporary lactation space in their department or office.

If a lactation room is not easily accessible (more than a 5-7 minute walk), Human Resources will loan a breast pump and breast pump kit to nursing mothers. This option will allow departments to set up a temporary private lactation space and help ensure nursing mothers feel supported. A Lactation Accommodation Program Breast Pump Loan Agreement will be required to reserve a breast pump and breast pump kit.

For more information on this option, please contact lactationprogram@ucr.edu.

Reserve a Lactation Room

To reserve a room, review the UCR Lactation Accommodation Program Guidelines and complete the Lactation Room Usage and Participant Agreement. Once the Agreement has been completed, please contact lactationprogram@ucr.edu to obtain the room key.

Federal Health Care Reform Act Requirements

Effective March 23, 2010 the Federal Health Care Reform Act requires the following:

A “reasonable break time for an employee to express breast milk for their nursing child for 1 year after the child’s birth each time such employee has a need to express the milk.”
A “place, other than a bathroom, that is shielded from view and free from intrusion from coworkers and the public, which may be used by an employee to express breast milk.”
A reasonable amount of break time to express milk as frequently as needed by the nursing mother. The frequency of breaks needed to express milk as well as the duration of each break will likely vary.
A bathroom, even if private, is not a permissible location under the Act. The location provided must be functional as a space for expressing breast milk. If the space is not dedicated to the nursing mother’s use, it must be available when needed in order to meet the statutory requirement. A space temporarily created or converted into a space for expressing milk or made available when needed by the nursing mother is sufficient provided that the space is shielded from view, and free from any intrusion from co-workers and the public.

Awards

Mother-Baby Friendly Workplace Award

The California Breastfeeding Coalition recognizes employers for their support of lactating employees.

The criteria ensures compliance with existing California and Federal laws and includes: creating breastfeeding policies, ensuring employees are aware of their policies, and talking with expectant mothers about accommodating their breastfeeding needs when they return to work. For more information about the award, please visit the California Breastfeeding Coalition website.

Breastfeeding Friendly Employer

The University of California, Riverside Work/Life Program has been awarded the designation of “Breastfeeding Friendly Employer”by the Riverside County Department of Public Health Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Program Lactation Services Program. Through collaboration with the Lactation Services program, UCR has successfully completed the five required steps to achieve this designation. Our exemplary efforts have resulted in a lactation support program which provides breastfeeding support and education to employees and their families, flexible scheduling options for breastfeeding mothers, and a private, comfortable location for milk expression while employees are at work. This success demonstrates UCR’s commitment to providing an environment for its employees to achieve a balanced work and family life.