Nursing Mothers, Lactating Employees, and Pregnancy Accommodations Notice

Nursing Mothers, Lactating Employees, and Pregnancy Accommodations employee notice

Minnesota’s Nursing Mothers, Lactating Employees, and Pregnancy Accommodations law (Minnesota Statutes § 181.939) gives pregnant and lactating employees certain legal rights.

Pregnant employees have the right to request and receive reasonable accommodations, which may include, but are not limited to, more frequent or longer breaks, seating, limits to heavy lifting, temporary transfer to another position, temporary leave of absence or modification in work schedule or tasks. An employer cannot require an employee to take a leave or accept an accommodation.

Lactating employees have the right to reasonable paid break times to express milk at work unless they are expressing milk during a break that is not usually paid, such as a meal break. Employers should provide a clean, private and secure room that is not a bathroom near the work area that includes access to an electrical outlet for employees to express milk.

It is against the law for an employer to retaliate, or to take negative action, against a pregnant or lactating employee for exercising their rights under this law.

Employees who believe their rights have been violated under this law can contact the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry’s Labor Standards Division at dli.laborstandards@state.mn.us or 651-284-5075 for help. Employees also have the right to file a civil lawsuit for relief. For more information about this law, visit dli.mn.gov/newparents.