Policy Text
DEPARTMENTAL GENERAL ORDER
D-19: DEPARTMENTAL LACTATION POLICY
Effective Date: 20 OCT 23 Coordinator: Health and Wellness Unit
Page 1 of 5
COMMAND INTENT
The Oakland Police Department recognizes members’ (sworn a nd professional) rights for
lactation accommodation. The pur pose of this policy is to provide guidance to members
desiring to express breast milk for the memb er’s child, for the en tire duration of the
member’s lactation period.
A. POLICY AND APPLICABILITY
A - 1. Policy in Accordance with Law
The Department’s policy is to provide, in compliance with the Fair Labor
Standards Act, reasonable break tim e and appropriate facilities to
accommodate any member desiring to e xpress breast milk for their nursing
infant child (29 U.S.C. § 207 a nd Cal. Labor Code § 1030-1032).
A - 2. Applicable Members
This policy shall apply to all members te mporary, part-time, full-time, of the
Oakland Police Department.
A - 3. Lactation Break Time
A rest period should be permitted each time the member has the need to
express breast milk (29 U.S.C. § 20 7). The Department shall provide a
member a reasonable amount of break tim e to a member desiring to express
milk. However, individual circumstances may require more or less time. Such
breaks, if feasible, should be taken at the same time as the member’s regularly
scheduled rest or meal periods.
While a reasonable effort will be ma de to provide additional time beyond
authorized breaks, any such time exceeding regularly scheduled and paid break time may be unpaid (Cal. Labor Code § 1030).
Members desiring to take a lactation br eak should notify a supervisor or if
applicable the Oakland Police Communica tion Division to take such a break.
Such breaks may be reasonably delayed if there are exigent circumstances (ex.
Officer needs help (940 B), crow d management and crowd control
1, active
shooter etc.) that seriousl y disrupt department operat ions (Cal. Labor Code §
1032).
All other members should avoid interrupting a member during an
authorized lactation break, except to announce an emergency or other
urgent circumstance.
1 TB III G Crowd Management and Crowd Control
DEPARTMENTAL GENERAL ORDER D-19 Effective Date
OAKLAND POLICE DEPARTMENT 20 OCT 23
Page 2 of 5 Once a lactation break has been approved, the break should not be interrupted
by Supervisors except for emergenc y or exigent circumstances.
B. DOCUMENTATION
B - 1. Lactation Accommodation Request Form (LARF)
All members shall submit a Lactatio n Accommodation Request Form in
accordance with DGO D-19 (Appendix A) a nd submit this form to the City
Risk Management. Members submitting this form shall be provided DGO D-
04, DGO D-21, and Administrative Instru ction 404. Once this form is
complete the member will be provided a key code to access the lactation rooms.
B - 2. Record Keeping
Medical Unit shall maintain a record of lactation accommodation requests for
a minimum of three years. The Oakland Police Depart ment shall make these
records available upon the member’s request.
C. Locations and Accommodations for Expressing Breast Milk
C - 1. Private Areas
The Department shall accommodate members with the use of an appropriate
room or other location to express milk in private. Such a room or place should
be in close proximity to the member's work area and shall be other than a
bathroom or toilet stall. The location must be shielded from view and free
from intrusion from co-workers and the public
2.
Member occupying such private areas sh all secure the door, provide signage,
and/or otherwise make it clear to others that the area is occupied with a need
for privacy.
Authorized lactation breaks for members assigned to the field may be taken at
the nearest appropriate private area.
C - 2. Lactation Room Accommodations
The department will provide member s with lactation rooms in various
locations of the city. The l actation room shall comply with all of the following
requirements:
1. Be safe, clean, and free of hazardous material3.
2 29 U.S.C. § 207 and Cal. Labor Code § 1031
3 California Labor Code § 6382 Hazardous
DEPARTMENTAL GENERAL ORDER D-19 Effective Date
OAKLAND POLICE DEPARTMENT 20 OCT 23
Page 3 of 5 2. Contain a surface to place a br east pump and personal items.
3. Contain a place to sit and a mirror.
4. Have access to electricity or alternat ive devices, including but not limited
to extension cords or charging statio ns, needed to operate an electric-
powered breast pump.
C - 3. Location of Lactation Room
Members shall be provided access to a sink with running water and a
refrigerator suitable for storing milk in close proximity to the member’s
workspace. If a refrigerator cannot be provided, an employer may provide
another cooling device suitable for stor ing milk (Cal. Labor Code § 1031 (d).
C - 4. Lactation Room Locations
4
During the completion of the Lact ation Accommodation Request Form
(LARF) the member will be provided a key code to the lact