Office for Institutional Equity & Access

Lactation Spaces

Six lactation spaces are available at the St. Cloud State University campus for mothers to breast feed or express milk in private, lockable locations comfortably furnished by HOM Furniture in St. Cloud.

Lactation rooms are available in the following locations:

Audio directions:

Federal Law and Pregnant, Post-Partum and Breastfeeding Workers

This FAQ provides an overview of federal laws protecting pregnant, post-partum and breastfeeding women. The applicability of these laws depends on the size of your workplace and nature of your work. Learn more.

Minnesota State Laws

Nursing Mothers
MN Statutes 181.939
Minnesota law requires all employers to provide unpaid break time for nursing mothers who wish to express breast milk. Employers must also make a "reasonable effort" to provide a room (other than a toilet stall) where breast milk can be expressed.

http://www.commissions.leg.state.mn.us/oesw/brochures_/parentallve/parentallve.htm

In addition, the newly passed Women’s Economic and Security Act requires the following for Nursing Mothers who are employed:

  • Current law requires employers to provide reasonable unpaid break time to an employee to express breast milk, but no penalties for not doing so. This law says nursing mothers must be provided, if reasonable, not only a separate place to express breast milk, but a place other than a bathroom and one that is private and has access to an electrical outlet.
  • An employer can’t retaliate against an employee for exercising these rights.
  • Employees can bring a civil action to recover damages, including attorney’s fees, against an employer for failure to comply.

Overview of Women's Economic Security Act: http://www.oesw.leg.mn/PDFdocs/OESW_WESA_Overview.pdf

Resources

  • Central MN Breastfeeding Coalition

  • Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 is a federal law outlawing employment discrimination, it applies generally to employers of 15 or more persons. It is enforced by:

    U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
    330 S. 2nd Ave., Suite 430
    Minneapolis, MN 55401
    (612) 335-4040 or 1-800-669-4000
    http://www.eeoc.gov

  • The Minnesota Human Rights Act (M. S. 363)is a state law outlawing discrimination, it applies to most employers in the state. It is enforced by:

    Minnesota Department of Human Rights
    190 E. 5th St., Suite 700
    St. Paul, MN 55101
    (651) 296-5663 or 1-800-657-3704
    https://mn.gov/mdhr/

  • The Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry's division of labor standards has information about a variety of wage, hour and employment law issues including the Federal Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA)and the Minnesota Parental Leave Act.

    Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry
    Division of Labor Standards
    (651) 284-5005 or 1-800-342-5354
    http://www.dli.mn.gov/ls/FaqEmpRights.asp