OAR 839-020-0051
Rest Periods for Expression of Milk


(1)

ORS 653.077 (Expressing milk in workplace) requires employers to provide reasonable rest periods to accommodate an employee who needs to express milk for the employee’s child 18 months of age or younger.

(a)

If feasible, the employee will take the rest periods to express milk at the same time as the rest periods or meal periods that are otherwise provided to the employee. If not feasible, the employee is entitled to take an unpaid rest period each time the employee has a need to express milk.

(b)

If the employer is required by law or contract to provide the employee with paid rest periods, the employer will treat the rest periods used by the employee for expressing milk as paid rest periods, up to the amount of time the employer is required to provide as paid rest periods.

(c)

If an employee takes unpaid rest periods, the employer may, but is not required to, allow the employee to work before or after the employee’s normal shift to make up the amount of time used during the unpaid rest periods. If the employee does not work to make up the amount of time used during the unpaid rest periods, the employer is not required to compensate the employee for that time.

(d)

An employer may not require an employee, including an employee who is FLSA exempt, to substitute paid leave time for unpaid rest periods provided in compliance with these rules.

(e)

As used in ORS 653.077 (Expressing milk in workplace) and this rule, “expression of milk” means the initiation of lactation by manual or mechanical means and does not include breastfeeding. However, any employer may accommodate breastfeeding pursuant to its own policies or by agreement or contract with employees.

(2)

An employer will make a reasonable effort to provide the employee with a private location within close proximity to the employee’s work area to express milk.

(a)

As used in ORS 653.077 (Expressing milk in workplace) and this rule, a “private location” is a place, other than a public restroom or toilet stall, in close proximity to the employee’s work area for the employee to express milk concealed from view and without intrusion by other employees or the public and includes, but is not limited to:

(A)

The employee’s work area if the work area permits the employee to express milk concealed from view and without intrusion by other employees or the public.

(B)

A room connected to a public restroom, such as a lounge, if the room allows the employee to express milk concealed from view and without intrusion by other employees or the public.

(C)

A child care facility where the employee can express milk concealed from view and without intrusion by other employees or the public.

(D)

An empty or unused office, conference room, or a storage space, so long as there is a door that closes and any windows can be covered, and there is a sign that can be placed on the door or handle of the door indicating that the room is in use.

(b)

As used in ORS 653.077 (Expressing milk in workplace) and this rule, a “public restroom” is a restroom freely available for use by employees or the general public that does not include an attached lounge or room that allows an employee to express milk concealed from view and without intrusion by other employees or the public. A “toilet stall” includes a restroom that contains one toilet, whether or not in plain view, and whether or not the restroom locks from the inside.

(c)

As used in ORS 653.077 (Expressing milk in workplace) and this rule, “close proximity” means within walking distance from the employee’s work area that does not appreciably shorten the rest or meal period.

(d)

If a private location is not within close proximity to the employee’s work area, the employer may not include the time taken to travel to and from the location as part of the break period.

(3)

An employer with ten (10) or fewer employees is not required to provide rest periods under this section if to do so would impose an undue hardship on the operation of the employer’s business. As defined in ORS 653.077 (Expressing milk in workplace), “undue hardship” means significant difficulty or expense when considered in relation to the size, financial resources, nature or structure of the employer’s business. For the purpose of determining whether providing rest periods for expression of milk requires significant difficulty or expense, the following factors will be considered:

(a)

The nature and the cost of complying with the requirement to provide a reasonable rest period for the expression of milk.

(b)

The overall financial resources of the employer’s facility or facilities involved in complying with the requirement to provide a reasonable rest period for the expression of milk, the number of persons employed at the facility and the effect on expenses and resources or other effects on the operation of the facility caused by the necessity for compliance with the requirement to provide a reasonable rest period in a private location.

(c)

The overall financial resources of the employer, the overall size of the employer’s business with respect to the number of its employees and the number, type and location of the employer’s facilities.

(d)

The type of operations conducted by the employer, including the composition, structure and functions of the workforce of the employer and the geographic separateness and administrative or fiscal relationship of the facility or facilities in question to the employer.

(4)

An employer is required provide a reasonable accommodation to an employee’s or applicant’s limitations related to the expression of milk in accordance with OL CH. 139, 2019.

(5)

When possible, an employee who intends to express milk during work hours must give the employer reasonable oral or written notice of the employee’s intention to allow the employer time to make the preparations necessary for compliance with ORS 653.077 (Expressing milk in workplace) and these rules. Failure to give notice is not grounds for discipline.

(6)

An employer must notify all employees, through its policies or other means, of the person or entity to whom an employee should give notice of intent to express milk. If the employer does not provide such notification, the employee’s oral or written notice to a supervisor, manager, or human resource or personnel department or their staff will be presumed sufficient.

(7)

After receiving notice from the employee, the employer may take a reasonable time to make necessary preparations for compliance with ORS 653.077 (Expressing milk in workplace) and this rule. A “reasonable time” must not interfere with the rights provided by 653.077 (Expressing milk in workplace) and this rule, taking into consideration the immediacy of the employee’s need to express milk, and that the rights under 653.077 (Expressing milk in workplace) and this rule apply only until the employee’s child is 18 months of age. For example, an employer in the process of creating a private location for expressing milk must provide the most adequate space already available for an employee who gives notice of an immediate need.

(8)

An employee invoking the provisions of ORS 653.077 (Expressing milk in workplace) and this rule is responsible for storing the employee’s expressed milk. The employer must allow the employee to bring a cooler or other insulated food container to work for storing the expressed milk and ensure there is adequate space in the workplace to accommodate the employee’s cooler or insulated food container. If the employer allows employees access to refrigeration for personal use, the employer may allow, but cannot require, an employee who expresses milk during work hours to use the available refrigeration to store the expressed milk.

(9)

ORS 653.077 (Expressing milk in workplace) and this rule apply to individuals engaged in administrative, executive or professional work as described in ORS 653.020 (Excluded employees)(3).

(10)

The provisions of this rule may be modified by the terms of a collective bargaining agreement if the collective bargaining agreement entered into by the employee includes provisions that prescribe rules pertaining to reasonable rest periods for the expression of milk.

(11)

Each school district board must adopt a policy to accommodate an employee who needs to express milk for the employee’s child.

(12)

In addition to any other penalty provided by law, the commissioner may assess a civil penalty not to exceed $1,000 against any person who intentionally violates ORS 653.077 (Expressing milk in workplace) or any rule adopted thereunder.

(13)

The commissioner of the Bureau of Labor and Industries will appoint an advisory committee to facilitate compliance with ORS 653.077 (Expressing milk in workplace) and these rules. Upon request by a particular industry or profession, the advisory committee will determine when the ordinary course of such industry or profession makes compliance difficult for an employer in that industry or profession, and submit to the commissioner recommendations for rules to address compliance difficulties in that industry or profession.

Source: Rule 839-020-0051 — Rest Periods for Expression of Milk, https://secure.­sos.­state.­or.­us/oard/view.­action?ruleNumber=839-020-0051.

839‑020‑0000
Notice of Proposed Rule
839‑020‑0004
Definitions Generally
839‑020‑0005
Employees Engaged in Administrative, Executive, Professional, or Outside Sales Work, Defining the Terms
839‑020‑0010
Payment of Minimum Wages — Generally
839‑020‑0011
Determination of Applicable Region and Minimum Wage Rate to be Paid for Work Performed by Employees
839‑020‑0012
Wage Statements to Be Provided to Employees
839‑020‑0013
Bonuses Provided to Workers in Agriculture
839‑020‑0015
Fixed Minimum Hourly Wage Rates Lower than the Minimum Wage Rate
839‑020‑0020
Deductions from the Minimum Wage — Generally
839‑020‑0025
Deductions for Meals, Lodging, Facilities or Other Services
839‑020‑0027
Deductions for Garnishment Processing Fee
839‑020‑0030
Payment of Overtime Wages — Generally
839‑020‑0040
Hours Worked — Generally
839‑020‑0041
Waiting Time
839‑020‑0042
Sleeping Time and Certain Other Activities
839‑020‑0043
Preparatory and Concluding Activities
839‑020‑0044
Lectures, Meetings and Training Programs
839‑020‑0045
Travel Time
839‑020‑0046
Adjusting Grievances, Medical Attention, Civic and Charitable Work and Suggestion Systems
839‑020‑0047
Application of OAR 839-020-0040 to 839-020-0047 to Agricultural Employees
839‑020‑0050
Meal and Rest Periods
839‑020‑0051
Rest Periods for Expression of Milk
839‑020‑0052
Leave for Domestic Workers
839‑020‑0060
Weight Lifting
839‑020‑0065
Other Working Conditions
839‑020‑0070
Homework — Generally
839‑020‑0080
General Recordkeeping Requirements
839‑020‑0082
Special Recordkeeping Circumstances
839‑020‑0083
Records Availability
839‑020‑0085
Posting Requirements
839‑020‑0087
Earned Income Tax Credit Notice to Employees
839‑020‑0115
Relationship of State and Federal Law
839‑020‑0125
Overtime Exemptions Pertaining to Employers Regulated Under the Federal Fair Labor Standards Act
839‑020‑0130
Overtime Exemption for Public Employees
839‑020‑0135
Overtime Exemption for Agricultural Employees
839‑020‑0150
Exemptions from Minimum Wage and Overtime
839‑020‑0200
Authority of Labor Commissioner to Define Terms Relating to Persons Employed by a Public Agency in Fire Protection and Law Enforcement Activities
839‑020‑0210
Exemptions from Overtime Relating to Persons Employed by a Public Agency in Fire Protection and Law Enforcement Activities — Generally
839‑020‑0220
Definitions for Regulations Pertaining to Persons Employed by a Public Agency in Fire Protection and Law Enforcement Activities
839‑020‑0230
Limitation on Nonexempt Work
839‑020‑0240
Public Agency Employees Engaged in Both Fire Protection and Law Enforcement Activities
839‑020‑0250
Effect of Training Time
839‑020‑0260
Application of ORS 653.269(3) to Ambulance and Rescue Service Employees
839‑020‑0270
Other Overtime Exemptions May Apply to Public Employees Engaged in Fire Protection and Law Enforcement Activities
839‑020‑0300
Authority of Labor Commissioner to Define Terms Relating to Executive, Administrative, Supervisory and Professional Employees of a Public Agency
839‑020‑0310
Application of OAR 839-020-0300 to 839-020-0350
839‑020‑0320
Definitions for Exemptions Relating to Executive, Administrative, Supervisory and Professional Employees of a Public Agency
839‑020‑0330
Exception to Salary or Fee Basis
839‑020‑0350
Computer Professionals
839‑020‑0400
Definitions for Maximum Hours of Work in Canneries, Driers and Packing Plants
839‑020‑0410
Determination of the Day
839‑020‑0415
Failure to Establish a Workweek
839‑020‑0417
Employee’s Written Consent to Work up to 60 Hours in a Workweek
839‑020‑0420
Undue Hardship Notices and Employee’s Written Consent
839‑020‑1000
Violations Separate and Distinct
839‑020‑1010
Violations for Which a Civil Penalty May Be Assessed
839‑020‑1020
Criteria for Determining a Civil Penalty
Last Updated

Jun. 8, 2021

Rule 839-020-0051’s source at or​.us