Maine Workplaces Support Nursing Moms Poster

Maine Workplaces Support Nursing Employees
An employer who is found to
have violated this law through a
hearing process must pay a civil
penalty of $100– $500 for every
violation.

Bureau of Labor Standards

This document is a collaborative effort of the Maine WIC
Nutrition Program and the Maine Department of Labor.

This poster is available online at no charge and may be copied: https://www.maine.gov/labor/posters/
Employers of nursing employees, for three years after
the birth of a child, must:
	
•	 provide adequate unpaid break time, or 		
	
permit an employee to use paid break 			
	
or meal time each day to express breast 		
	
milk for a nursing child.
	
	
	

•	

make reasonable efforts to provide a clean room 	
or other location, other than a bathroom,		
where an employee may express breast 		
milk in privacy.

Why do Maine workplaces support nursing employees?
	
	

•	

Average annual savings equals $400 per 		
breastfed baby (lower medical costs with 		
fewer health insurance claims).

•	

Reduces employee turnover.

•	

Lowers employee absenteeism.

•	

Improves employee productivity.

•	

Raises employee morale and company 	loyalty.

	
An employer shall not retaliate or discriminate 			
against an employee who exercises the right 			
provided under this section.

Additional breastfeeding protection in Maine:
The Nursing in Public Law (5MRSA §4634)
provides protection for parents who nurse in public.

How can employers support nursing parents?

A parent may breastfeed in any location, public or private,
where the parent is otherwise authorized to be.

	
	
	

•	

Develop a workplace policy, including
identifying who oversees implementation, and 		
inform employees of new policy.

•	

Identify a clean, private place with access 		
to electric outlets and a chair.

•	

Offer flexible breaks.

What can employees do to make nursing in the
workplace easier?
	
	
	

•	

Understand Maine’s Nursing Mothers in the 		
Workplace Law 26MRS §604.

•	

Create a “back to work” plan before your baby 		
is born.

•	

Determine scheduling and support needs 		
and talk to your employer as soon as possible.

•	

Do a workplace walk-through and suggest ideas.

For more information on working and pumping visit:
WIC Nutrition Program: www.maine.gov/WIC
or 1-800-437-9300
www.workandpump.com
www.llli.org

For more information or if you believe that
your rights have been violated, contact:
Maine Department of Labor
Bureau of Labor Standards
45 State House Station
Augusta, Maine 04333-0045
www.maine.gov/labor/bls
207-623-7900
Maine Human Rights Commission
www.maine.gov/mhrc/ or 207-624-6290
TTY users call Maine Relay 711
The Maine Department of Labor provides equal opportunity in employment and programs.
Auxiliary aids and services are available to people with disabilities upon request.

rev. 04/24