Law of lactation breaks in the UK: Employers’ perspectives

Employers of breastfeeding women are obliged to observe a variety of laws and regulations concerning the health of new mothers. But there is no absolute right to lactation breaks in the UK, and the legislation is complex. Using a public sector organisation as a case study of a supportive employer, I investigate how managers understand the law around breastfeeding and expressing breastmilk in the workplace. The legislation is complex for managers and employers who need to access and implement the law, and there is a call for law reform and a greater role for risk assessments on return to work. There are a variety of barriers to lactation breaks, and the complex legal environment around lactation breaks is difficult for managers and employers to navigate.