"Supporting Working Parents, Building Stronger Teams"
Creating a breastfeeding friendly workplace is about more than compliance - it's about fostering a supportive environment where employees, businesses, and communities can thrive.
Brown County Public Health decided to focus on helping workplaces become breastfeeding friendly due to responses received from community members in the "Building a Bridge of Support: Brown County Infant Feeding Survey".
- Brown County workplaces are the #1 place community members felt a lack of support for breastfeeding.
- Going back to work was the #3 reason Brown County residents stopped breastfeeding.
- #1 "did not make enough milk"
- #2 "experience pain while breastfeeding"
- Less Missed Work: Breastfeeding employees miss work less often. This is because breastfed infants are usually healthier. Formula feeding parents have 3 times as many absences from work than breastfeeding parents.
- Lower Turnover: Employees are more likely to return to work after childbirth when their workplace provides a supportive environment for continued breastfeeding. On average, companies with lactation support programs have a 95% retention rate, compared to the national average of 59%.
- Lower Healthcare Costs: The reduced healthcare costs for breastfed infants translates into lower medical insurance claims for businesses. Babies who are not breastfed visit the doctor more often, spend more days in the hospital, and require more prescriptions than breastfed infants.
- Higher Productivity and Loyalty: Employees whose companies provide breastfeeding support consistently report improved morale, better satisfaction with their jobs, and higher productivity. They also feel the support eases their transition back to work and enables them to return from maternity leave sooner.
- Ensures Compliance with Legal Requirements: Under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), as amended by the Providing Urgent Maternal Protections for Nursing Mothers Act (the PUMP Act), most nursing employees have the right to reasonable break time and a private place to pump breast milk while at work. This right is available each time the employee needs to pump for up to 1 year after their nursing child's birth.
- U.S. Department of Labor. Section 7(r) of the Fair Labors Standards Act - Break Time for Nursing Mothers Provision. (Click here to read it)
Brown County Public Health works with businesses of all sizes to create environments where breastfeeding employees can thrive. Here is what we offer:
- Personalized Consultations: We will help you assess your current workplace and identify ways to support breastfeeding employees.
- Policy Development Support: Need help creating a lactation policy? We have templates and expertise to guide you.
- Lactation Room Guidance: From space requirements to setup tips, we will help you create a comfortable and compliant lactation space.
- Training for Managers and Staff: Ensure your team understands and supports breastfeeding rights in the workplace.
- Ongoing Support: Have questions? Need resources? We are just a call or email away.
Creating a breastfeeding-friendly workplace is easier than you think, and we are here to make it happen. Complete the online form and someone will be in touch to discuss the next steps:Let's work together to support your employees and create a stronger, healthier workplace and community!
Click here to read The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) Protections to Pump at Work
Click here to read the Business Case for Breastfeeding
The following resources for employers are available upon request. Please call (920) 448-6400 or email bc_health@browncountywi.gov
- Brown County Breastfeeding Friendly Workplace Toolkit (in English or Español)
- "Pump up the Support" Webinar Recording
Brown County's Breastfeeding Friendly Employee Workplace Toolkit is available upon request in English, Spanish, and Hmong. Please call (920) 448-6400 or email bc_health@browncountywi.gov
