Want a very special gift to give your employer this holiday season? How about a toolkit for supporting breastfeeding mothers, courtesy of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services?
This fall the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services/Centers for Disease Control published a "toolkit" for employers on establishing lactation support programs. It includes guidelines for lactation-supportive policies, lactation support services (such as classes and support groups), and creating a physical environment that supports lactation.
Eleven states currently have laws requiring (or in some cases encouraging) employers to provide the basics: break time and a place to pump (that isn't a toilet stall). That leaves mothers in the the vast majority of states with no recourse when they're told that they can't have time or a clean place to pump.
Funny thing is, it's actually in the financial interest of employers to make working and breastfeeding work. According to the U.S. Breastfeeding Committee, employers who support breastfeeding save $3 for every $1 they spend in reduced absenteeism, lower health care costs for both mothers and babies, higher employee productivity, and higher employee morale and loyalty.
So, whether or not you're currently pumping at work, pass along this link to your boss and human resources manager. You never know what difference it may make.
If you're reading this in New Mexico and want to work toward legislation would require employers to provide break time and a clean place to pump, check out the New Mexico Breastfeeding Task Force site for information about a planning meeting this week.
