Employment conditions and protections
Hours, shifts and breaks
Breastfeeding at work
Can I get extra break time 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 includes expressing breast milk.
You are entitled to breastfeeding breaks as well as your usual rest and meal breaks (see: “Breaks”), unless you and your employer agree that the same break will be taken for both purposes.
Will I get paid while on a break to breastfeed?
Additional breastfeeding breaks are unpaid, unless you and your employer agree otherwise.
