WORKPLACE FOOD AND ACTIVITY ENVIRONMENT
ENACT STRATEGY: Support Breastfeeding
Support the ability to breastfeed at work by providing a comfortable, private space to do so for employees without private offices
Breastfeeding is widely known to benefit mothers and infants both from a nutritional and bonding aspect. Yet a lesser-known fact is that breastfeeding also benefits employers of working moms. Women who are able to continue to breastfeed after returning to work miss less work time due to baby related illnesses, have shorter absences when they do miss work, and tend to return earlier from maternity leave. In fact supportive breastfeeding policies in the workplace have been shown to decrease absenteeism from work by as much as 57%. The benefits from higher employee morale can also translate into increased productivity. Women who are unable to breastfeed sufficiently due to the work environment may also develop infections requiring bed rest and time away from work. Since breastfeeding is in the best interest of mom, baby, and employer, the workplace environment should include accommodations for a comfortable lactation experience. The workplace environment has a responsibility to enable new mothers to continue to breastfeed for as long as they choose.
Characteristics of a comfortable breastfeeding environment in the workplace:
- Initiating a workplace breastfeeding policy
- Comfortable, private space(s) for breastfeeding
- Access to breast pumps, electric outlets, and refrigeration
- Subsidization or purchase of individually owned portable breast pumps for employees
- Adequate breaks, flexible work hours, job sharing, and part-time work offered as options
- Support from co-workers and management
Breastfeeding Support at the Workplace (PDF)
Written by the Washington Business Group on Health, this document describes several model programs for breastfeeding at work.
This pilot program was so successful that it is now a permanent part of the NIH Work/Life Center's services.
The Department of Health Services Website
The Department of Health Services proposes a model of how to develop breastfeeding workplace policy and includes current, sample policy language.
Chula Vista Breastfeeding Support Policy
The Chula Vista City Council passed a resolution that provides a private room or space, other than a toilet stall, for female employees who are breastfeeding to express milk, and also protects a women’s right to breastfeed in public.
OHS set an example for employers in breastfeeding promotion for working families by developing and implementing their own Breastfeeding Mother Friendly Workplace Policy.
California WIC, Department of Health Services
“WIC, the Women, Infants, and Children program, is a nutrition program that helps pregnant women, new mothers and young children eat well and stay healthy.”
Breastfeeding Works, A Breastfeeding Task Force of Greater Los Angeles Project
“The goal of Breastfeeding Works is to promote support for lactation in the workplace.”
CDC Guide to Breastfeeding Interventions
The guide includes a chapter on support for breastfeeding in the workplace.
United States Breastfeeding Committee This document outlines components of a successful program in Workplace Breastfeeding Support.
This study found that about 75% of mothers in the lactation programs continued breastfeeding at least 6 months as compared to 10% of full-time employed mothers nationally.
Cohen R, Mrtek MB. American Journal of Health Promotion 1994; 8(6): 436-41.
This study found that support for lactation at work results in decreased absenteeism, health care costs, and employee turnover.
Cohen R, Mrtek MB. American Journal of Health Promotion 1995; 10(2): 148-53.