Washington Nursing in the Workplace Rules

Washington employers must comply with these state rules regarding nursing in the workplace.

An employer may not interfere with the right of a mother to breastfeed her child in any place of public resort, accommodation, assemblage, or amusement.

In order to use the "infant-friendly" designation on promotional materials, employers must have an approved workplace breastfeeding policy addressing the following:

1. flexible work scheduling, including permitting breaks and work patterns that provide time for expressing breast milk;
2. a convenient, sanitary, safe and private locations (other than restrooms), allowing privacy for breastfeeding or expressing breast milk;
3. a convenient clean and safe water source with facilities for washing hands and rinsing breast-pumping equipment located in the private location; and
4. a convenient hygienic refrigerator in the workplace for the mother's breast milk.

Employers seeking approval of a workplace breastfeeding policy must submit the policy to the Department of Health.