© Texas Department of State
Health Services. Photo used with permission.
Breastfeeding offers so many benefits to
both mom and baby, but it can be hard work! Before many women even have the
time to get the hang of breastfeeding, they are often met with new challenges
as they return to work. Like needing to pump during the workday to maintain
their milk supply. But these challenges can be made easier with the help of
employers. Providing basic arrangements that allow women to comfortably express
and store breast milk when separated from their babies during the workday is
one way to make things a little easier for breastfeeding moms.
Keep reading to learn about what the
Texas Mother-Friendly Worksite Program is doing to help moms succeed in meeting
their breastfeeding goals and how you can get involved in supporting a
breastfeeding-friendly culture in the workplace!
The Texas Mother Friendly Worksite Program (TMFW)
strives
to reduce workplace barriers to breastfeeding and increase the number of
employers who have worksite lactation support policies and programs.
The TMFW
program recognizes employers who develop and maintain “Mother-Friendly” policies that ensure 1) adequate time for the expression
of breast milk; 2) a private
non-bathroom space to express breast milk; 3) access to a clean,
safe water source to wash hands and clean pumping equipment; and, 4) access
to hygienic options for storage of expressed breast milk. We
also provide guidance, education, tools, and technical assistance for employers
seeking the Texas “Mother-Friendly” recognition. To date, we have officially
designated more than 2,400 worksites in Texas as “Mother-Friendly” and we
continue to add to that number every day! Click on the map to check out our
interactive Texas
Directory that shows which businesses around you are proactively supporting
their breastfeeding employees!
How Can You Promote a Culture of Breastfeeding Support?
Taking action to increase lactation support in the workplace can feel
intimidating. Here are some steps to take if you’re thinking about promoting
workplace lactation support:
1. Get Some Input, Find Some Allies
Before talking to a business or employer
about supporting breastfeeding, it may be helpful to gather information from
friends, family, and other working moms about their experiences with
breastfeeding. Sharing a collective experience can often be a more powerful
method of communication.
2.
See What The Employer Already Offers
To find out whether a workplace offers breastfeeding support, a human
resource (HR) representative would be a good first stop. Ask if the workplace
has a breastfeeding policy or offers accommodations for breastfeeding
moms. Many employers are required to
provide a certain level of lactation support.
3. Encourage Employers to Become Designated
as Texas “Mother-Friendly”
Tell
your local businesses why breastfeeding is important for moms, babies, and
businesses. Here are some Texas Mother-Friendly Worksite Program resources to
share:
4. Spread the word about the Mothers’ Milk
Bank of Austin*
If
you or someone you know is pumping breastmilk at home or at work, consider donating any extra
milk to the Mothers’ Milk Bank at Austin. More women successfully pumping milk
at work can also mean more potential milk for the tiniest of babies. Let others
know how easy it is to give the life-saving benefits of human milk!
*Fun fact,
the Mothers’ Milk Bank of Austin is a designated Texas Mother-Friendly
Worksite!
5.
Know
the Law
There are several laws in place that protect rights of employees to
express breastmilk during the workday.
Section
7(r) of the Fair
Labor Standards Act requires employers covered by the Act to provide reasonable break time for a
nursing employee who is non-exempt each time she has a need to pump, and
provide her with a private, secure place other than a bathroom for the purpose
of milk expression.
Texas
Health and Safety Code Sec. § 165.003 Business Designation As
"Mother-Friendly"
provides the authority for the Texas Mother-Friendly Worksite Program
and its recognition of businesses that voluntarily maintain a “Mother-Friendly”
worksite lactation support policy.
Texas Government Code § 619 Right to Express Breastmilk in the Workplace requires public
employers (e.g. counties, municipalities, school districts, universities,
governmental offices or departments) in the State of Texas to develop a written
breastfeeding support policy on expressing breast milk and provide reasonable
break time and a private place to an employee to pump at work each time she has
a need.
6. Share What You Know With Your Friends!
If you know
of others who are passionate about promoting breastfeeding, share this
information with them! The Texas Mother-Friendly Worksite Program’s infographic
is a great way to get out the “big picture” message of supporting breastfeeding
moms. Share this image on your favorite social media site!
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