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Recommendation to Provide Direction to City Staff on Enhancing Access to Lactation Facilities. (Human Resources 2510)
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To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
On March 19, 2019, the City Council directed the City Manager to create breastfeeding locations, baby changing stations and gender neutral bathrooms. Staff have now installed six baby changing stations at City Hall; one in each restroom. City staff are in the process of evaluating installation at other City facilities. All City single stall restrooms now have gender neutral signs.
Staff are now seeking direction on enhancement to current City lactation facilities.
BACKGROUND
Pursuant to Labor Code 1031 every employer, including the state and any political subdivision, must make reasonable efforts to provide an employee with the use of a room or other location, other than a toilet stall, in close proximity to the employee's work area, for the employee to express milk in private. The room or location may include the place where the employee normally works if it, otherwise, meets the requirements of the labor code.
The City currently uses existing conference rooms and locker rooms in order to ensure compliance with the labor code. Both Alameda Municipal Power and the Police department have locker rooms that provide privacy for employees and are separate from toilet stalls. City Hall, City Hall West, the Library, the Fire Department and Recreation and Parks Administration all have conference rooms or other rooms that have been used as a lactation space.
DISCUSSION
While the City complies with Labor Code 1031, the City does not have any permanent lactation locations. Staff are now looking for direction from City Council on whether or not there should be a designated space at City Hall or other City facilities.
While the City does not keep statistics on the number of employees who have requested lactation accommodations, 13 employees have taken maternity l...
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