Best Place to Pump Award

A New Standard for Working Parents

Mothers’ Milk Bank California is proud to launch the Best Place to Pump Award, a first-of-its-kind recognition program celebrating employers that go above and beyond to create inclusive, empowering environments where lactating parents can thrive — both personally and professionally.

About the Award

The Best Place to Pump Award recognizes organizations that:

• Provide clean, safe, and private lactation spaces
• Offer flexible schedules to support milk expression
• Cultivate a workplace culture that celebrates nursing and donor moms
• Promote parental wellness and work-life integration

From corporate offices and hospitals to universities and public agencies, honorees set a new standard for supporting working families.

Challenges we face with pumping in the workplace

While many organizations strive to support new parents, serious challenges remain for breastfeeding employees returning to work. Despite federal protections, too many nursing mothers still encounter environments that are inconvenient at best — and discriminatory at worst.

Common issues include:

• Inadequate lactation spaces (e.g., being directed to pump in a restroom, which is prohibited under federal law)
• Employer harassment for taking “too many” breaks, despite legal protections
• Lack of awareness among human resources teams or managers about the legal rights of nursing employees
• Retaliation or wrongful termination while on job-protected leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)

Why It Matters

Breastfeeding parents face unique challenges balancing work and family life. The Best Place to Pump Award:

• Elevates model employers and sets a standard for others to follow
• Helps retain valuable employees, who continue to thrive when they feel valued in the workplace
• Promotes public health by contributing to better health outcomes for both infants and mothers. Breastfeeding is linked to lower risks of infections, chronic conditions, and postpartum complications.
• Helps reduce the career penalties often associated with women by acknowledging and accommodating their biological and caregiving needs
• Encourages more workplaces to become part of a cultural shift toward family-first values
• Promotes accountability in the workplace and creates opportunities for education and leadership training across leadership levels
• Builds visibility for human milk donation as a compassionate and vital act of care
• Is good for business. There are long-term health benefits for women who breastfeed, and breastfed babies’ immune systems are stronger. Healthier babies = less time off work for parents.

Who Can Be Nominated

• Open to public, private, and nonprofit organizations of all sizes. Ideal candidates:
  • Provide compliant and welcoming lactation accommodations
  • Have breastfeeding-friendly HR policies
  • Actively support donor milk awareness or participation
  • Celebrate nursing moms through internal communications or programs

Benefits of Being an Honoree

• Honorees will receive:
  • A custom “Best Place to Pump” digital badge for use on your website, careers page, and HR materials
  • A certificate of recognition from Mothers’ Milk Bank California
  • A window or door decal to display on your lactation room door or elsewhere in the workplace
  • A social media spotlight and press release support recognizing your leadership and commitment to supporting working parents
  • Well-earned bragging rights—and the credibility to back them up

Timeline

• Applications open: January 26, 2026
• Last day to submit nominations: March 16, 2026
• Honorees announced: March 26, 2026

How to Apply or Nominate

Nominations open January 26, 2026, in celebration of World Pumping Day. Anyone can nominate a workplace, including employers, employees, or community members. Visit the Best Place to Pump nomination page to apply or submit a nomination.