Breastfeeding & Back to Work

For Worksites

MT Mother -Friendly Worksite Initiative

Does your worksite provide: space, time & a policy to pump breastmilk?
Nominate your worksite as a Montana Mother Friendly Worksite!

The Montana Mother-Friendly Worksite Initiative recognizes Montana businesses that support employees who choose to pump. Creating & implementing a Mother-Friendly policy is both simple and inexpensive. Mother-Friendly worksites need only provide space, time & a policy that allows employees to pump breastmilk. Recognized worksites receive free tech support, certificate of regonition, window cling and regognition on DPHHS NAPA websites and social media.

Nominate Your Worksite Here

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Many breastfeeding mothers have questions about expressing breast milk when returning to their workplace after having a baby. Find return to work support resources HERE.

For Employees

Workplace Breastfeeding Protection

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Public employer policy of support of women & breastfeeding
Mont. Code Ann. § 39-2-215 et seq. (2007) specifies that all state and county governments, municipalities, and school districts and the university system employers must not discriminate against breastfeeding mothers and must encourage and accommodate breastfeeding. Requires employers to provide daily-unpaid break time for a mother to express breast milk for her infant child and facilities for storage of the expressed milk. Employers are also required to make a reasonable effort to provide a private location this activity. For more information or to file a complaint contact: Montana Human Rights Bureau 1-406-444-2884 or 1-800-542-0807

Break Time for Nursing Mother Law, US Department of Labor
US Patient Protection & Affordable Care Act (2010) amended the Fair Labor Standards Act to require employers to provide a nursing mother a place and reasonable break time to express breast milk after the birth of her child. The following is required: Reasonable time to express breast milk each time it is needed during the day, up to the baby’s first birthday, and a place, other than a bathroom, that is private to express breast milk. An employer that employs fewer than 50 employees and proves an undue hardship may be exempt. The employer must apply for exemption through the Department of Labor. Nothing in this law shall preempt a State law that provides greater protections. For more information or to file a complaint contact the Federal Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division: 1-866-487-9243