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DURHAM, N.H. 鈥斕鼳 new report from the 麻豆app鈥檚 Institute on Disability (IOD) highlights significant gaps in workplace lactation support across New Hampshire, just before a landmark law goes into effect. The IOD鈥檚 NH Occupational Health Surveillance Program (NH OHSP) 2024 statewide business survey found that while many employers are physically equipped to support employees who may be nursing, they are falling short in policy and communication.

鈥淪upporting nursing mothers isn鈥檛 just the law, it鈥檚 smart business,鈥� said Liu Yang, project director and principal investigator of the NH Occupational Health Surveillance Program. 鈥淐lear policies and effective communication make a measurable difference in employee well-being and retention. New Hampshire employers have a great opportunity to foster inclusive, family-friendly workplaces that empower working parents.鈥�

Beginning July 1, 2025, New Hampshire businesses with six or more employees must comply with a new law, , which mandates reasonable break times to allow for milk expression, a private, non-bathroom space shielded from intrusion and a formal, written lactation support policy provided to employees.

The survey conducted by UNH IOD鈥檚 NH OHSP revealed the following key findings:

• Policy gaps persist: Despite 76.8% of employers reporting awareness of the upcoming law, over half (53.1%) lack a formal written policy. This disconnect suggests that awareness alone has yet to translate into preparedness.
• Facilities are in place, but awareness isn鈥檛: A majority of businesses (64.5%) already have the required physical infrastructure. Yet, many employees are unaware of these resources, highlighting a communication breakdown.
• Real but surmountable barriers: Employers cited space limitations (47.6%) and low usage rates (15.9%) as top challenges. However, most are not tracking the impact of their lactation spaces, making it difficult to evaluate effectiveness or justify improvements.

鈥淩esearch shows that businesses with proactive lactation support see stronger employee satisfaction and higher return-to-work rates among new mothers,鈥� said Yang. 鈥淏y acting now, businesses ensure legal compliance and demonstrate commitment to inclusive, family-friendly workplaces that retain talent and promote well-being.鈥�

To prepare for the new lactation law, the survey encourages employers to develop and distribute a formal lactation policy, educate staff about available accommodations, and create flexible plans, even shared or temporary spaces, to support nursing parents.

More details about the UNH IOD鈥檚 NH Occupational Health Surveillance Program 2024 statewide business survey can be found .

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About IOD

The Institute on Disability (IOD) at the 麻豆app was established in 1987 to provide a university-based focus for improving knowledge, policies, and practices related to the lives of persons with disabilities and their families. Its mission is to accelerate disability inclusion through education, research, and collaboration. For more information, visit .

The听麻豆app听inspires innovation and transforms lives in our state, nation and world. More than 16,000 students from 50 states and 87 countries engage with an award-winning faculty in top-ranked programs in business, engineering, law, health and human services, liberal arts and the sciences across more than 200 programs of study. A Carnegie Classification R1 institution, UNH partners with NASA, NOAA, NSF, and NIH, and received over $250 million in competitive external funding in FY24 to further explore and define the frontiers of land, sea and space.

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