What can employers do to support breastfeeding?
“When I was breastfeeding my daughter, we went to a café/restaurant for lunch and I fed her at the table, quite undisturbed. When we were leaving, the owner came up to me and said, "I'm really pleased that you felt comfortable about feeding your baby in my restaurant" which I found really supportive.”
Employers who increase the support they provide for breastfeeding mothers, have found that there are benefits to the company as well as to families.
One study carried out in two companies in America found that formula fed babies had more frequent and more severe illnesses and their mothers needed more time off work than the mothers who were breastfeeding their babies. Of the 28% of the babies who had no illnesses, 86% were breastfed and 14% formula fed. One day maternal absences were 3 times more common among mothers of formula fed babies. (Cohen et al 1995) It is therefore in your interest to support breastfeeding, as well as in the best interest of the baby.
What can you do?
• Ensure you have a Breastfeeding Policy Statement for Employees to support your staff who are breastfeeding and returning to work.
• Ensure you have a clear statement or policy supporting breastfeeding for visitors if your organisation is accessible to members of the public.
• Ensure your premises provide facilities for women who want to express milk at work or breastfeed in private.
• Make sure any employees are aware of their entitlements regarding breaks for breastfeeding or expressing.
Your responsibilities as an employer
• Health and Safety at Work legislation provides protection for the breastfeeding relationship. Employers should not interfere with a woman's ability to continue breastfeeding. Risk assessments should be carried out to find out whether there are any changes that need to be made to the work environment.
• For women who want to express breastmilk at work employers should provide a clean, private room, preferably with an electrical socket and a fridge where breastmilk can be stored safely
• In Scotland public sector employers are expected to conform to guidelines laid down by the Scottish executive. The Scottish Executive also provides examples of good practice policies
• The International Labour Organisation's Maternity Protection Convention states that women should be entitled to one or more breastfeeding breaks during the working day or a daily reduction of hours of work to breastfeed without loss of pay. These provisions have been enacted in some European countries such as Portugal. See Article 10 of the Maternity Protection Convention itself.
• It is very helpful to have a Breastfeeding Policy Statement for Employees. This makes the organisation's position clear to all employees and shows commitment and support from the employer.
• Display a clear statement of support for breastfeeding for visitors. Notices should make clear that breastfeeding is welcome throughout the premises. Notices should highlight any private facilities available for breastfeeding mothers and babies who may prefer this, but should not imply that women must use these facilities or hide the fact that they are breastfeeding.