Expanded State Law Will Require Paid Lactation Breaks
Effective Jan. 1, 2027, Washington employers must pay employees for lactation breaks, including qualifying travel time, at their regular compensation rate – adding a new paid-time obligation for payroll to track and finance to budget for.
The requirement will apply to employers with one or more employees, down from the current 15-employee threshold.
Lactation breaks must be provided in addition to required meal and rest periods, and employers may not require workers to use paid leave for them. The law also adds scheduling flexibility for postpartum medical visits.
Enforcement shifts from the Attorney General to the Department of Labor and Industries, which can issue civil penalties.
More info: SB 5217
- Share on
Free Training & Resources
Further Reading
What should you do if you mistakenly pay out too much for one of your employer-provided benefits, such as your retirement plan? Plan spo...
There’s a Great Re-evaluation going on among your peers when it comes to health and well-being program benefits. That’s t...
Here’s a common rollover scenario: An individual leaves one employer for another. The previous employer offered a 401(k) plan. The...
Employee experience – including employee mental health – has become a higher priority for many organizations, according to rese...
Maryland employers must register for the state’s Family and Medical Leave Insurance (FAMLI) program. Registration opened Sept. 1 and ...
In April, Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders signed legislation making it illegal for Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) to own or oper...
