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4nd Annual Workplace Lactation Week™ 2026

This year’s theme is Work. Pump. Advance. Empowering the modern parent.


Welcome to Workplace Lactation Week™, a dedicated week celebrated along with National Breastfeeding Month. This year, we're focused on "Work. Pump. Advance. Empowering the modern parent." This themed week serves as an invaluable resource for leaders, parents, and businesses, providing essential information, resources, and best practices to promote a truly supportive and lactation-friendly work environment for everyone.


Planning for this important initiative began in 2022, with the first-ever Workplace Lactation Week™ celebrated September 1-7, 2023. It is celebrated annually from September 1st to September 7th to coincide with Labor Day in the United States.

The 2026 Theme: Work. Pump. Advance. Empowering the modern parent.

The theme for Workplace Lactation Week 2026 is "Work. Pump. Advance. Empowering the modern parent." This theme shifts the conversation from foundational support to active advocacy, ensuring that choosing to breastfeed or pump never means hitting a career ceiling. Modern parenting requires a dynamic approach that meets parents exactly where they are—whether they are navigating a corporate office, working the factory floor, logging in remotely, traveling abroad, or working in any role to provide for their family.


In the United States, a robust framework of federal, state, and local lactation laws serves as a launchpad for organizations to champion new parents. Two critical laws are the federal PUMP (Providing Urgent Maternal Protections) Act and the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA). These legal protections ensure that working and pumping parents don't just get by, but have the necessary accommodations, security, and peace of mind to thrive and advance in their careers.


Empowerment Knows No Borders: Workplace lactation support is a global movement. Countries worldwide are continuously evolving their national policies, drawing inspiration from international benchmarks like the International Labour Organization (ILO) Maternity Protection Convention. This framework advocates for comprehensive maternity leave, health protections, and dedicated pumping breaks.


Our collective goal for 2026 and beyond is to dismantle barriers and foster cutting-edge environments where all parents—regardless of geography or profession—are fully empowered to succeed at work while sustaining their families.

Workplace Lactation Week™ 2026 Events Are In Progress. Check out our 2025 Events to get an idea of what to expect!

Workplace Lactation Week™: September 1-7 Every Year

Workplace Lactation Week™ is observed annually from September 1st to September 7th. This week not only celebrates the contributions of nursing mothers and parents in the workplace but also aligns with Labor Day, highlighting the vital role working and pumping parents play in the workforce. It's a time to recognize and support the efforts of working parents who balance the responsibilities of their careers and caring for their children.

Why Workplace Lactation Support Matters

Supporting nursing mothers at work goes beyond basic compliance; it fosters a workplace culture that values employees' well-being and recognizes the critical role of chest/breastfeeding. Here's why workplace lactation support matters:

  1. Health and Well-being: Chest/breastfeeding offers unparalleled health benefits for babies, enhancing their immunity and overall development. For mothers, lactating reduces the risk of various health conditions such as ovarian, breast, and thyroid cancers, and promotes postpartum recovery.
  2. Employee Retention and Satisfaction: Providing lactation support demonstrates care and commitment to employees, leading to higher job satisfaction and improved retention rates.
  3. Increased Productivity: When nursing mothers and parents have access to comfortable and designated lactation spaces, they can express human milk efficiently and return to work with increased focus and productivity.
  4. Legal Compliance: Complying with lactation support laws not only avoids penalties but also reinforces a company's commitment to ethical practices and family-friendly policies.

Explore Workplace Lactation Week™ Resources

U.S. Laws and Compliance: Stay informed about the legal requirements and obligations surrounding workplace lactation support under the federal, state, and municipal laws. Dive into the provisions of the PUMP Act, PWFA, and more to gain insights into how they impact your organization. A list of workplace lactation resources are linked at the end of this page!

Global Laws and Compliance: To truly achieve "A World of Support: Creating Breastfeeding-Friendly Workplaces Everywhere," organizations must navigate and adhere to a diverse landscape of legal requirements across different countries. While specific national, regional, and local laws will vary, a growing global consensus, often guided by international standards, emphasizes the importance of workplace lactation support.


Globally, the International Labour Organization (ILO) Maternity Protection Convention, 2000 (No. 183), and its accompanying Recommendation, 2000 (No. 191), serve as key international benchmarks. These instruments advocate for essential provisions such as paid maternity leave, health protection, and the right to breastfeeding breaks or reduced working hours for nursing mothers. Many countries have enacted their own legislation inspired by or aligned with these standards, ensuring a baseline of protection for working parents.

For organizations operating across borders, it is crucial to:

  • Stay informed about the specific legal obligations in each country where you have a presence. This includes understanding national labor laws, parental leave policies, and explicit provisions for breastfeeding or expressing milk at work.
  • Implement policies that meet or exceed local legal requirements, striving for global best practices that foster a positive and supportive environment for all employees, regardless of their location.
  • Continuously review and adapt policies to reflect evolving legislation and cultural norms surrounding breastfeeding support worldwide.

Designing Lactation Spaces: Learn how to set up comfortable, hygienic, and private lactation rooms equipped with essential amenities for nursing mothers and parents.

Supportive Workplace Culture: Explore strategies to foster a supportive and respectful workplace culture, where nursing mothers feel empowered and valued. A positive workplace culture with lactation support reduces healthcare costs while boosting retention, morale, and your organization's image as a diversity leader!

Lactation-Friendly Policies: Create and implement supportive lactation programs. 

Educational Workshops: Attend workshops and seminars to deepen your understanding of the significance of chest/breastfeeding support and its positive impact on your organization.

Engaging Community Partners

Collaborate with Experts: Partner with workplace lactation experts, breastfeeding organizations, and government organizations to enhance your network and support parents at work.


Community Events: Join our community events, where nursing mothers, parents, leaders, and businesses can connect, share experiences, and inspire each other to support working parents.

Measuring Impact

Feedback and Surveys: Engage with participants and gather feedback to assess the effectiveness and impact of your workplace lactation support programs and readiness for new and existing legislation.


Tracking Progress: Monitor absenteeism rates, employee satisfaction, and retention data to measure the positive impact of lactation support on your organization. The “Business Case for Breastfeeding” is a great example of the positive impact supporting pumping parents has on the bottom line.

Let's Celebrate Workplace Lactation Week™ Together!

Join us during Workplace Lactation Week™ in celebrating the remarkable contributions of nursing mothers and parents in the workplace. Together, we can create a nurturing and supportive environment that empowers working parents, boosts employee well-being, and sets the stage for a thriving and positive workplace.

Curated U.S. Resources

Curated Global Resources

The International Labour Organization (ILO) Maternity Protection Convention, 2000 (No. 183) stands as a significant international standard for supporting working parents. It's crucial to understand that this convention is legally binding only for the countries that have formally ratified it, thereby committing to integrate its provisions into their national laws and practices. As of the latest information, a considerable number of nations globally have undertaken this commitment. These include countries such as Albania, Antigua and Barbuda, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cuba, Cyprus, Czechia, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Mali, Mauritius, Montenegro, Morocco, Netherlands, Niger, North Macedonia, Norway, Panama, Peru, Portugal, Republic of Moldova, Romania, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Suriname (with entry into force on November 28, 2025), and Switzerland. For the most up-to-date and detailed information, including specific ratification dates and the current status for each country, you can directly consult the ILO's NORMLEX database, which is linked below.


Ratifications of C183 - Maternity Protection Convention, 2000 (No. 183)

https://normlex.ilo.org/dyn/nrmlx_en/f?p=1000:11300:0::NO:11300:P11300_INSTRUMENT_ID:312328


ILO Maternity Protection Convention, 2000 (No. 183)

https://normlex.ilo.org/dyn/nrmlx_en/f?p=NORMLEXPUB:12100:0::NO::P12100_ILO_CODE:C183 


ILO Maternity Protection Recommendation, 2000 (No. 191)

https://normlex.ilo.org/dyn/nrmlx_en/f?p=1000:12100:::NO:12100:P12100_INSTRUMENT_ID:312529


International Labour Organization (ILO) NORMLEX Information System

https://normlex.ilo.org/


WABA Explainer: Key Elements of Maternity Protection at Work

https://waba.org.my/v3/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/2-Key-Elements-of-Maternity-Protection-at-Work.pdf

Happy Workplace Lactation Week™!

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