Hours, shifts and breaks
Breastfeeding at work
What breaks and facilities am I entitled to for breastfeeding?
Employment Relations Act 2000, Part 6C
Employers must provide appropriate facilities and breaks for employees who want to breastfeed in the workplace or during work periods, as far as is reasonable and practical in the circumstances. To decide what’s reasonable and practical, employers will take into account their resources and their “operational environment”.
Breastfeeding breaks are additional to your entitlement to rest and meals breaks (see “Rest breaks and meal breaks” above), unless you and your employer agree that the same break will be taken for both purposes. Additional breastfeeding breaks are unpaid, unless you and your employer agree otherwise.
Note: Breastfeeding includes expressing milk.