Implementing a Babies to Work Policy

1
Implementing a Babies to Work Policy

• Mohawk Valley Perinatal Network, Inc.
• Diana Y. Haldenwang, Executive Director

2
The problem

• Parents often choose not to return to work after
  the birth of a child
• The national average for recruitment and training
  costs for a non management staff is 2,250, for a
  management professional it is at least 25,000

3
Working Mothers

• Mothers are the fastest growing segment of the
  U.S. workforce
• One-third of working mothers return to work
  within three months of the birth of their child
  and two-thirds return within 6 months, the exact
  time period when breastfeeding is most critical
• Working outside the home negatively affects
  initiation and duration of breastfeeding

4
Supporting Breastfeeding

• Healthy People 2010 calls for 75 of women to
  breastfeed at birth, 50 to continue to six
  months, and 25 to continue to one year
• AAP recommends that women breastfeed exclusively
  for six months and continue for a year while
  introducing solid foods
• While 55 of working mothers try breastfeeding,
  only 24 of part-time and 12.5 of full-time
  working mothers continue to breastfeed for six
  months

5
Rates of Breastfeeding
6
Employee Benefits

• Returning to work results in less isolation of
  postpartum mothers and may reduce risk of Post
  Partum Depression
• Successful breastfeeding improves a mothers
  self-esteem and confidence
• Parents experience less stress regarding securing
  child care for an infant
• Household income remains more stable when a
  working mother can return to the workforce sooner

7
Employer Benefits

• Reduced staff turnover and loss of skilled
  workers after the birth of a child
• Reduced absenteeism associated with childhood
  illness and maternity leave
• Lower healthcare costs for mother and child
• Higher job productivity, employee satisfaction,
  loyalty and morale
• Added recruitment incentive for parents
• Enhanced reputation as a company recognized as
  family friendly
• A healthier future workforce

8
Employer Benefits Examples

• Aetna estimated that it saved 1,435 in medical
  claims per breastfed infant during his/her first
  year of life after implementing a lactation
  program.
• CIGNAs Working Well Moms Program saw a savings
  of 300,000 in annual healthcare expenses for
  breastfeeding mothers and their children. The
  program also reduced absenteeism among
  breastfeeding mothers.

9
Supportive Employers Nationwide

• AMOCO
• ABBOTT
• AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY
• ASTRAZENECA
• BANK OF AMERICA
• BAPTIST HEALTH SOUTH FLORIDA
• BAYER CORPORATION
• CISCO SYSTEMS, INC.
• DOW CHEMICAL COMANY
• DUPONT
• FANNIE MAE
• FORD MOTOR COMPANY
• FEDDIE MAC
• GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
• GENERAL MILLS
• GLAXOSMITHKLINE
• HEWLETT-PACKARD COMPANY
• IBM CORPORATION
• JOHNSON JOHNSON

• LOS ANGELES DEPARTMENT OF WATER AND POWER
• MARRIOTT INTERNATIONAL
• MERCK CO., INC
• MICROSOFT CORPORATION
• MORGAN STANLEY
• MOTHERING MAGAZINE
• MOTOROLA INC
• NATIONAL SECURITY AGENCY
• NOVARTIS PHARMACEUTICALS
• PFIZER INC
• PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS LLP
• THE PROCTER GAMBLE COMPANY
• PRUDENTIAL FINANCIAL
• SCHERING-PLOUGH
• SC JOHNSON AND SON, INC.
• TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INC
• UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD
• VERIZON WIRELESS
• WACHOVIA CORPORATION

10
Comprehensive Policy Components
11
Policy Language

• Identifies intent of the program
• Spells out details of the program, such as
  facilities available and time allowed for breaks
• Prohibits harassment and discrimination of
  breastfeeding employees
• Recognizes that bringing baby to the workplace
  may not be appropriate for all positions
• Allows new adoptive parents the same benefits as
  birth parents
• Allows new fathers the same benefits as new
  mothers
• Allows the same benefits for breastfeeding and
  formula feeding parents
• Includes job protections during and after
  maternity leave

12
Joys

• Less tension and stress in the office
• Good example for consumers
• Good example for other employees of childbearing
  age
• Seeing a child grow and develop
• Reaction from consumers and partner agencies

13
Challenges

• Balancing offering parenting advice with
  respecting parenting choices
• Offering assistance that may not be wanted
• Sharing baby among co-workers
• Giving adequate attention to a developing infant
  while remaining productive

14
Thoughts from staff

• Seeing mom successful and happily breastfeeding
  made me more comfortable with talking to my
  children about breastfeeding.
• The policy went smoother than I thought it
  would. No disruptions, only a pleasant feeling
  of having a baby in our office.
• It was great being able to return to work and
  know that my baby was safe because he was with me
  and people I trust.

15
References

• American Academy of Pediatrics, Work Group on
  Breastfeeding. Breastfeeding and the use of human
  milk. Pediatrics 1997 100 1035-1039.
• Ball TM, Bennett DM. The economic impact of
  breastfeeding. Pediatric Clinics of North America
  2001 48(1) 253-262.
• Biagioli F. Returning to work while
  breastfeeding. American Family Physician 2003
  68(11) 2199-2206.
• Campbell KP. The business of breastfeeding.
  National Business Group on Health, Center for
  Prevention and Health Services. Presented August
  4, 2006.
• CIGNA. UCLA Study of CIGNA Corporate Lactation
  Program Proves that Helping Working Moms
  Breastfeed is Good Business. CIGNA Newsroom.
  Available online at http//cigna.mediaroom.com/in
  dex.php?spress_releasesitem335. Accessed July
  27, 2006.
• Johnson HM. Working and breastfeeding. Working
  Mother July/August 2006 49-50.
• National Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies
  Breastfeeding Promotion Committee. What gives
  these companies a competitive edge? Worksite
  support for breastfeeding employees.
• United States Breastfeeding Committee. Workplace
  breastfeeding support. Issue paper. Raleigh, NC
  United States Breastfeeding Committee 2002.
• United States Department of Health and Human
  Services. Healthy People 2010 Volume II Second
  Edition Objectives for improving health.
  Healthy People 2010. Available online at
  http//www.healthypeople.gov/Document/tableofconte
  nts.htmVolume2. Accessed June 4, 2007.
• United States Department of Health and Human
  Services. HHS blueprint for action on
  breastfeeding. Washington, DC United States
  Department of Health and Human Services, Office
  on Womens Health 2000.
• University at Albany School of Public Health and
  New York State Department of Health.
  Breastfeeding Grand Rounds, presented August 5,
  2004.
• Wright AL. The rise of breastfeeding in the
  United States. Pediatric Clinics of North America
  2001 48(1) 1-12.