First-of-Its-Kind Program Aims to Reduce Primary Barrier to Breastfeeding for Hourly and Lower-Wage Worki...( Corporate Voices for Working Families...),Health

Corporate Voices for Working Families, Abbott Nutrition, and Working Mother Media Launch Program to Support Breastfeeding in the Workplace

WASHINGTON, Feb. 9 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Corporate Voices for Working Families announced today that it has launched an initiative to help solve a problem facing many working mothers, especially those in hourly and lower-wage positions -- the need for breastfeeding support in the workplace. In partnership with Abbott Nutrition, Working Mother Media and a select group of companies, this new program aims to give employers the information and tools they need to reach hourly and lower-wage workers and help establish workplace lactation programs.

In a July 2008 survey of the Working Mother Magazine 100 Best Companies, more than one-third of employers said there are real barriers to implementing lactation programs for hourly and lower-wage employees. These barriers include scheduling conflicts, lack of dedicated lactation rooms, and limited promotion of lactation benefits to hourly employees.

"It's clear that workplace lactation programs benefit employers. When women breastfeed, babies and mothers may be healthier, they may miss less work-time and employee satisfaction and productivity can increase," Donna Klein, President and Founder of Corporate Voices for Working Families, said. "Opening the door to extend workplace lactation programs to all employees is a challenge that can be overcome and this new program offers tools to help."

A key component of the initiative - Workplace Lactation Programs: Good for Working Families. Good for Business.(TM) - is a workplace lactation toolkit that provides instructions, tips and template materials. Important elements of the program include recommendations for employers on how to support employees with breastfed babies, guides for working mothers who breastfeed, and sample promotional materi
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