Breastfeed At Work?! August 23, 2012My LifeOff

Breastfeeding is as natural as childbirth, but at work it’s the elephant in the room.

Only 28 percent of offices in corporate America have lactation rooms.

“Some women try to suppress their mothering side and just ‘fit in’ at work, so discussing breastfeeding may not be a comfortable work conversation,” according to author and commentator on breastfeeding issues, Kimberly Seals Allers.

She says any awkwardness around addressing the ritual may come from misinformation and over-sexualization of breasts, in general.

Don’t be among 57 percent of people who don’t know the law.

The Fair Labor Standards Act protects a mother’s right to pump at work. It states companies with 50 employees or more must provide a private space (bathrooms do not count) and reasonable break time for pumping. All of this for at least a year after childbirth.

Best practice employers found supporting nursing mothers saved them $3 for every $1 invested in breastfeeding support. Many workplaces have designated pumping rooms called mothers’ rooms. Some even set up a scheduling system for utmost privacy.

The Coca-Cola Company headquarters offers an electric pump in a private room that also has a refrigerator. They offer lactation education and counseling. Cisco, Home Depot, General Mills and Johnson & Johnson have similar accommodations.

Bonus PINK Link: Read how mothers are now viewed more positively at the workplace.

Does your office support nursing mothers?

By Joi Louviere

“When an actress takes off her clothes onscreen but a nursing mother is told to leave, what message do we send?”
Anna Quindlen

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