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Nursing Mothers Workplace Law

Workplace Accommodations for Nursing Mothers

Law: 8-13.5-101, C.R.S.

Effective August 5, 2008, public and private employers in Colorado who have one or more employees shall provide reasonable unpaid break time or permit an employee to use paid break time, meal time, or both, each day to allow the employee to express breast milk for her nursing child for up to two years after the child’s birth. 8-13.5-104(1), C.R.S.

An employer shall make reasonable efforts to provide a room or other location in close proximity to the work area, other than a toilet stall, where an employee can express breast milk in privacy. 8-13.5-104(2), C.R.S.

Reasonable efforts means any effort that would not impose an undue hardship on the operation of the employer’s business. 8-13.5-103(2), C.R.S.

Undue hardship means any action that requires significant difficulty or expense when considered in relation to factors such as the size of the business, the financial resources of the business, or the nature and structure of its operation, including consideration of the special circumstances of public safety. 8-13.5-103(3), C.R.S.


EMPLOYEES AND NURSING MOTHERS

The following links contain information on breastfeeding, breast pumps, storing milk, and returning to work.

Returning to Work While Breastfeeding American Academy of Family Physicians
Supporting Breastfeeding Mothers as They Return to Work American Academy of Pediatrics
The Business Case for Breastfeeding. Steps to Creating a Breastfeeding Friendly Worksite: Employees' Guide to Breastfeeding and Working United States Department of Health and Human Services (Free 6-page guide)
101 Reasons to Breastfeed ProMom

EMPLOYERS

The following links contain information on how to make workplace accommodations for nursing mothers, creating lactation support programs, how employers can benefit, and support for breastfeeding policies.

Lactation Support Program Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
An employer toolkit for lactation programs.
Accommodations for Breastfeeding in the Workplace United States Breastfeeding Committee (USBC)
Covers facilities for accommodating nursing mothers and an employers’ breastfeeding support sample policy.
Workplace Breastfeeding Support United States Breastfeeding Committee (USBC)
Includes benefits for employers for making workplace accommodations and how to create workplace accommodations including space, time, and support.
The Business Case for Breastfeeding. Steps for Creating a Breastfeeding Friendly Worksite: Bottom Line Benefits Kit United States Department of Health and Human Services
(Kit)
The Business Case for Breastfeeding. Steps for Creating a Breastfeeding Friendly Worksite: For Business Managers United States Department of Health and Human Services
(Free 3-page guide)
Tool Kit Resources for Building a Lactation Support Program United States Department of Health and Human Services
(Reproducible Resources)

External Links and Resources

All Applicable Rights Reserved, Copyright 2004 Colorado Department of Labor and Employment