Laserfiche WebLink
43 12/2024 <br /> <br /> <br />#205 NURSING MOTHERS, LACTATING EMPLOYEES AND PREGANCY ACCOMMODATIONS <br /> <br />Minnesota’s Nursing Mothers, Lactating Employees, and Pregnancy Accommodations law (Minnesota <br />Statutes §181.939) gives pregnant and lactating employees certain legal rights. <br /> <br />PREGNANCY ACCOMMODATIONS <br />Pregnant employees have the right to request and receive reasonable accommodations in the workplace. <br />An employer must provide the following accommodations to a pregnant employee upon request, without <br />asking for or requiring medical documentation such as a doctor’s note: limits on lifting 20 pounds, access <br />to seating, and more frequent or extended breaks to use the restroom and eat or drink water. Pregnant <br />employees have the right to request and receive additional reasonable accommodations which may <br />include, but are not limited to, more frequent or longer breaks, seating, limits to heavy lifting, temporary <br />transfer to another position, temporary leave of absence, or modification in work schedule or tasks. An <br />employer cannot require an employee to take a leave or accept an accommodation. <br /> <br />LACTATION BREAKS AND SPACE <br />Lactating employees have the right to reasonable paid break times to express milk at work unless they are <br />expressing milk during a break that is not usually paid, such as a meal break. Employers should provide a <br />clean, private and secure room that is not a bathroom near the work area that includes access to an <br />electrical outlet for employees to express milk. <br /> <br />RETALIATION PROHIBITED <br />It is against the law for an employer to retaliate, or to take negative action, against a pregnant or lactating <br />employee for exercising their rights under this law. Employees who believe their rights have been violated <br />under this law can contact the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry’s Labor Standards Division at <br />dli.laborstandards@state.mn.us or 651-284-5075 for help. Employees also have the right to file a civil <br />lawsuit for relief. For more information about this law, visit dli.mn.gov/newparents.