Oct 07, 2024  
2021-2022 Employee Handbook 
    
2021-2022 Employee Handbook

408 Maternity Leave


Disability due to pregnancy is considered as any other disability and appropriate sick leave provisions of these policies apply. See Sick and/or Family and Medical Leave for further information.

408.1 Worksite Lactation

As a family-friendly employer, Georgia State University provides a supportive environment that enables breastfeeding employees to express their milk during business hours. The below outlines information regarding designated on-campus lactation rooms and reasonable break times to accommodate milk expression. This information will be posted on the Georgia State University Human Resources’ website at: https://hr.gsu.edu/download/georgia-state-university-lactation-areas-for-nursing-mothers/

Please contact the Office of Employee Relations at (404) 413-3356 with any questions regarding Worksite Lactation rooms.

408.1a Lactation Rooms

Georgia State University has designated private and sanitary locations on each campus, so that lactating mothers may express their milk during business hours. The designated lactation rooms provide an electrical outlet, comfortable chair, and nearby access to hot running water and soap. Breastfeeding mothers are responsible for keeping the general lactation room clean for the next user. If employees prefer and it is available, they may also express their milk in their own private offices, or in other comfortable locations agreed upon in consultation with the employee’s supervisor.

408.1b Reasonable Break Times

Lactating mothers shall be granted flexible and reasonable breaks, using their normal break periods and meal times, to accommodate milk expression. Nursing mothers who wish to express milk during the work period should keep supervisors informed of their needs so that appropriate accommodations can be made to satisfy the needs of both the employee and the department. Nursing mothers who feel they have been denied appropriate accommodations are encouraged to contact Employee Relations at (404) 413-3356.

408.1c Time away from Work - Instructions for Supervisors

Supervisors should keep in mind that expressing breast milk may be a physical necessity for some mothers. Thus, supervisors should make every reasonable accommodation to support the needs of nursing mothers. Such accommodations should include permitting nursing mothers who need to express breast milk to visit lactation room(s) during normal break times or meal times and providing reasonable unpaid time or use of sick time if applicable. While a supervisor may require the lactation break time, if possible, to run concurrently with break times already provided, supervisors should be flexible in allowing nursing mothers to select appropriate times to utilize a lactation room on campus or a private office.