Can we deny an employee’s request to express breast milk at work and tell them to return to work when they no longer have this need?

No, you may not deny the employee’s request to express milk at work or keep them from returning to work until they no longer have that need.

Both California and federal law require that all employers, regardless of company size, reasonably accommodate an employee’s request to express milk in private at work.

Federal law limits the time for this accommodation to 1 year. California, however, has no time limit.

An employee has the right to file a claim with the Labor Commissioner if the employee feels that the employer has not provided adequate break time and/or a suitable place to