Accommodations and Lactation Resources

Developed in collaboration with the Stanford Medicine Alliance for Disability Inclusion and Equity, EECI, Employee & Labor Relations, and disability community members, this easy-to-use, step-by-step guide helps employees with disabilities and their managers understand and navigate the accommodations process in the School of Medicine. We’re excited to share this with our colleagues across the University and invite you to reach out to somhrgeeci@stanford.edu with any questions.

The Department of Medicine and Lactation Council (WellMD/WellPhD) has appointed a faculty advocate to assist faculty and trainees in optimizing their workplace lactation plan and overcoming any barriers. Dr. Jessie (Kittle) Markovits hosts an informational Zoom meeting on the last Tuesday of each month and is available for individual meetings by request. To schedule an individual meeting or receive the Zoom link and details for the group meeting, email jkittle@stanford.edu.

For additional tips for successful breastfeeding after returning to work, please contact the University WorkLife Office.

Arranging Lactation Time

• For providers with outpatient clinic responsibilities, contact clinic managers to request a lactation hold midway through each clinic session to allow time to express milk. Inform the manager if you need 15, 20 or 30 minutes to express milk, as individual needs vary depending upon milk storage capacity and age of the infant/toddler.

• If clinic managers are not able to make accommodations, escalate to the Clinic Chief, then your Division Manager who can escalate to the Division Chief or HR as appropriate.

• For inpatient providers and those with surgical responsibilities, contact your direct supervisor/scheduler, followed by the Unit Based Medical Director, then the Division Manager who can escalate to the Division Chief or HR as appropriate.

• Wearable pumps during procedures/clinic visits/rounding/meetings may work for some (but not all) and should be supported if desired by the lactating person, but not required.

• For researchers, please contact your supervisor to plan lactation time.

Lactation Spaces

Lactating people may choose to utilize a lactation space, or they may choose to express milk in the most convenient location of their choosing (including their workspace). Designated Lactation Spaces must be prioritized for lactation. Informal lactation spaces may be used to express milk, and they are referred to as “shared” spaces. Shared spaces may be labeled as “In Use” for lactation to ensure privacy. Lactation space must not be a bathroom.

If no lactation space is available near your workspace, please contact the manager of the area to arrange a temporary lactation space that meets the above criteria. Escalate to the Clinic or Unit manager, then Division Manager if needed.

Storage

Milk may be stored in both refrigerators designated/reserved for human milk, or in staff refrigerators.

wRVU Credit

• Purpose: The purpose of this program is to avoid a financial compensation loss for individual faculty members who are breast/chestfeeding. 

• Program overview: Breastfeeding/chestfeeding clinical faculty who are lactating at the time they return from leave will be given a “lactation RVU credit” by SHC. This credit is intended to provide support through one year after birth for their clinical time only. Since the intent of the credit is to offset lost RVU credit due to chestfeeding/pumping during the workday, the amount of credit provided will be commensurate with the physician’s clinical FTE (ie RVU credit is not provided through this program for non-clinical time [education, research, administration]). Given the intent to offset lost RVU credit, the program also would not apply to faculty in divisions paid on a salary-only compensation model for which the hospital funds flow agreement does not have a wRVU productivity component. 

• Eligibility: Faculty who plan to express milk at work for a child under 1 year old, and who return from leave after September 1, 2024. 

• Payment: The payment will be applied at the end of the fiscal year during which the faculty member qualifies for the credit. 

• Questions: Contact your division manager, who can escalate to the department DFA if needed. 

Culture

The Department of Medicine will foster an environment where lactation is supported. Best practices include informing all lactating people about this policy, and proactively offering accommodations to anyone who is returning from parental leave. Accommodation plans should be arranged for any visitor or student who is temporarily interacting with the department. Consider adding language to invitations for interviewees, speakers, visiting trainees etc., ie. “If you require any physical accommodations during your visit at Stanford, including for lactation, please notify us and we will be happy to plan accordingly.”

Harassment or intimidation of a lactating person will not be tolerated and should be reported to your supervisor/Division Chief and/or human resources officer.