Create a Breastfeeding-Friendly Workplace—Even on the Road

Business travel is essential for many professionals, but for breastfeeding employees, it introduces significant challenges. Finding a private space to pump, safely storing and transporting breast milk, and navigating TSA regulations all require careful planning. Without clear policies and support, many parents face unnecessary obstacles that disrupt their breastfeeding journey.

While many companies have established lactation accommodations in the office, support must extend beyond the workplace. Under the PUMP Act, employers are legally required to provide reasonable break time and a private, non-bathroom space for pumping—even when employees are traveling for work.

With the right policies, education, and resources, businesses can ensure that breastfeeding employees have the support they need, no matter where their job takes them.

The Challenges of Breastfeeding While Traveling for Work

• Lack of lactation spaces at conferences and offsite meetings. Many event venues and client sites do not provide dedicated lactation rooms, making it difficult for employees to find a private, sanitary space to pump, which they are entitled to under the PUMP Act.
• Confusion around TSA regulations. Many employees are unaware that breast milk is exempt from TSA’s 3-1-1 liquid rule and that breast pumps are considered medical devices, allowing them to be carried separately from standard luggage.
• Limited access to proper milk storage. Not all hotels provide mini-fridges that maintain CDC-recommended temperatures for breast milk storage, and conference centers rarely offer refrigeration options.
• Lack of employer-provided guidelines. Without a clear policy, employees may not know how to request accommodations, leading to unnecessary stress and logistical challenges.

Employer Responsibilities Under the PUMP Act

The Providing Urgent Maternal Protections (PUMP) Act extends workplace lactation rights to employees at work and on business travel, ensuring they have:

• Reasonable break time for pumping, at conferences and offsites too.
• A private, non-bathroom space for lactation. Whether in a corporate office, a conference venue, or an offsite meeting location, employers must ensure that a suitable space is available.

Many companies are unaware that the PUMP Act applies even when employees are traveling for work. Ignoring these legal requirements can result in compliance violations and create unnecessary barriers for breastfeeding employees.

How Employers Can Support Traveling Employees

• Provide Clear Travel Guidelines. Establish a formal policy that communicates the company’s commitment to lactation accommodations, including travel-related support.
• Ensure Compliance with the PUMP Act. Make sure employees know their rights and have access to designated lactation spaces at conferences, offsite meetings, and client locations.
• Cover the Cost of Breast Milk Shipping. Services like Milk Stork allow employees to safely ship breast milk home, ensuring they can continue breastfeeding while meeting professional obligations.
• Proactively Secure Accommodations. Work with conference organizers and hotel partners to ensure employees have access to refrigeration, lactation spaces, and other necessary resources.
• Educate HR Teams and Managers. Equip leadership with the knowledge to support breastfeeding employees, from approving travel-related lactation expenses to facilitating accommodations.

Make Business Travel Easier for Breastfeeding Employees

To help companies and employees navigate these challenges, Milk Stork offers comprehensive lactation benefits at the office and for your traveling workforce.

Business travel shouldn’t be a barrier to breastfeeding. With the right support, employers can create an inclusive work environment where parents don’t have to choose between professional growth and their feeding goals.

Get in touch with our team today.