Over half of employers today offer workplace lactation programs for
breastfeeding mothers. Yet, it’s no secret that many new moms in hourly
and low-wage positions continue facing barriers to breastfeeding
because their workplaces don’t offer lactation support or make it
accessible to them.
Barriers Revealed
In a July 2008 survey of Working Mother’s 100 Best Companies, over one
third of employers commented that there are real barriers to
implementing lactation programs for hourly workers. Scheduling
conflicts, lack of dedicated lactation rooms and limited internal
promotion of lactation program benefits to hourly employees were common
barriers cited.
Finding a Solution
Employers offered insight into what could help overcome these barriers.
Case studies of how to achieve success with hourly workers,
documentation of potential cost savings of breastfeeding support
benefits, employee marketing and promotional examples, and education
programs for management were the top resources requested by survey
participants.
Working Mothers Agree
In a separate survey, Working Mother asked hourly working moms why they
think companies don’t offer breastfeeding benefits. Moms’ top answers
in part mirrored the barriers employers identified and the solutions
they are seeking. Moms said key barriers are: lack of dedicated
lactation rooms, lack of management support for workplace lactation
programs, and the perceived cost of such programs.
New Program Helps Open the Door
A workplace lactation program is a wise investment; it can lower
employer health care costs, reduce absenteeism, and increase employee
loyalty and productivity. Opening the door to extend workplace lactation
programs to all employees— especially hourly and low-wage employees— is
a challenge that smart companies can overcome.
With support from Abbott Nutrition, Corporate Voices for Working
Families and Working Mother Media have teamed up with a select
group of employers to develop Workplace Lactation Programs: Good
for Working Families, Good for Business. This new initiative offers
employers what they need most—marketing ideas, case examples,
and materials to extend workplace lactation programs to benefit hourly
and low-wage workers. Learn more at http://www.corporatevoices.org/lactation
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