The PUMP for Nursing Mothers Act (2022) expanded federal protections requiring virtually all employers to provide a private space — other than a bathroom — for nursing employees to express breast milk. The space must be shielded from view, free from intrusion, and available each time an employee needs it. State laws in California, New York, Illinois, and many others add additional requirements including proximity, running water, seating, and electrical outlets.

For warehouses, manufacturing plants, and distribution centers, meeting these requirements can be challenging. There’s often no enclosed space available that isn’t a bathroom, office, or conference room already in use. Modular lactation rooms solve this by creating a purpose-built, private, comfortable space that can be installed directly on the warehouse floor in a single day — ensuring legal compliance while demonstrating genuine support for working parents.

The federal PUMP Act requires employers to provide a private, non-bathroom space for nursing employees for one year after the child’s birth. The space must be shielded from view, free from intrusion by coworkers and the public, and available each time the employee needs to express milk. Failure to comply can result in lawsuits, EEOC complaints, and penalties.

Many states go further. California requires the space to be near the employee’s work area, have access to running water and a refrigerator, include a surface for placing a breast pump, and have seating. New York requires a locking door and signage. Illinois mandates reasonable proximity and a private space within walking distance. A properly designed modular lactation room meets all of these requirements in a single, turnkey installation.