Support for mothers breastfeeding can benefit employers’ bottom line
National Breastfeeding week is being celebrated this week under the theme “Breastfeeding and work — let’s make it work”. The objectives include promoting baby-friendly environments and supportive practices towards breastfeeding, as well as raising awareness of the need to strengthen national legislation to protect the breastfeeding rights of women in the workplace.
Employers who support breastfeeding by their female employees are not only taking the ethical high road, they are likely to reap benefits for their businesses and their countries’ economies, said experts at the Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization in the lead-up to World Breastfeeding Week, August 1-7 2015.
“The benefits of breastfeeding extend to mother and baby, and promoting breastfeeding policies in the workplace is essential,” said Dr Carissa F Etienne, director of PAHO.
“Employers also stand to benefit as it leads to happier, more dependable and productive employees.”
PAHO/WHO recommends that infants be exclusively breastfed for the first six months of life, followed by breastfeeding and appropriate complementary foods for two years or more. These recommendations are based on research that demonstrates health benefits from breastfeeding that range from reduced infections and improved IQ in babies to lower risk of breast and ovarian cancer in mothers.
Studies also show that promoting breastfeeding in the workplace produces benefits for employers, including:
*Greater employee loyalty to companies as a result of gratitude and satisfaction;
*Reduced absenteeism because breastfeed babies get sick less often and less severely;
* Retention of employees, reducing the need for training and the loss of qualified personnel; and
* Improved productivity.
To support breastfeeding, PAHO/WHO recommends that employers implement policies including paid maternity leave, paid breaks for breastfeeding, a dedicated room for breastfeeding in the workplace that is private and hygienic, and flexible or reduced working hours for breastfeeding mothers.
