DOL Finds Hillcrest Medical Center Violated PUMP Act, Limited Nursing Breaks
Summary
The Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division found that Hillcrest Medical Center in Tulsa violated the PUMP Act by limiting nursing workers' break times for expressing milk to specified times only when staffing was sufficient. The employer restricted breaks that should be available as needed for one year after childbirth. The facility has since updated its policies and practices to comply with federal law. Healthcare employers should review their nursing mother accommodation policies to ensure compliance.
What changed
The Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division concluded that Hillcrest Medical Center violated the Providing Urgent Maternal Protections for Nursing Mothers Act by limiting break times for expressing milk to specified times only when sufficient staffing was available. The PUMP Act entitles nursing workers to take breaks as needed to express milk for one year after childbirth. The investigation resulted in the employer updating its policies and practices to comply with federal law.
Healthcare employers should review their practices to ensure compliance with the PUMP Act. The DOL emphasizes that healthcare employers should lead in protecting nursing workers and that providing private space and reasonable break time benefits both working mothers and employer staff retention. Employers with questions can contact the Wage and Hour Division's toll-free helpline at 866-4US-WAGE (487-9243) or access compliance assistance resources on the DOL website.
What to do next
- Review policies on nursing mother break accommodations to ensure compliance with the PUMP Act
- Contact the Wage and Hour Division at 866-4US-WAGE for compliance assistance
- Use DOL's industry-specific compliance toolkits for PUMP Act obligations
Archived snapshot
Apr 14, 2026GovPing captured this document from the original source. If the source has since changed or been removed, this is the text as it existed at that time.
News Release
US Labor Department finds Tulsa medical center denied nursing workers break time, violating the PUMP Act
TULSA, OK – A U.S. Department of Labor investigation discovered that Hillcrest Medical Center in Tulsa violated a federal law that provides protection for nursing mothers to express milk in the workplace.
Investigators with the department’s Wage and Hour Division concluded that Ardent Health Services +, operating as Hillcrest Medical Center, limited break times for expressing milk to specified times and only if there was sufficient staffing. The employer’s action violated the Providing Urgent Maternal Protections for Nursing Mothers Act, which allows a nursing worker to take breaks as needed to express milk for one year after her child’s birth.
“Healthcare industry employers should be at the forefront of ensuring workplace protections for nursing workers,” said Wage and Hour Division District Director Michael Speer in Oklahoma City. “Setting aside a private, clean space and allowing reasonable break time supports working mothers and helps employers retain skilled staff. The Wage and Hour Division is available to provide compliance assistance to employers with questions about the PUMP Act.”
As a result of the division’s investigation, Hillcrest Medical Center updated its policies and practices to comply with federal law.
Workers and employers can call the Wage and Hour Division with questions and requests for compliance assistance at its toll-free helpline, 866-4US-WAGE (487-9243). Employers are encouraged to use the agency’s industry-specific compliance assistance toolkits to learn about their responsibilities under the laws enforced by the division.
Agency Wage and Hour Division Date April 13, 2026 Release Number 26-479-DAL Media Contact: OPA West Media Email opa-west-media@dol.gov Share This
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