Breastfeeding Policies and Resources for Postpartum Employees are Lacking Across a University System
Abstract
In the U.S., working women often return to work 8-12 weeks after giving birth. It is critical for worksites to provide time, space, and support for women to combine breastfeeding upon return to work. The Affordable Care Act requires organizations with more than 50 employees to provide a space other than a restroom and a reasonable amount of time during the workday for women to express breastmilk. Workplace breastfeeding policies establish organizational expectations for breastfeeding support and ensure that supervisors and employees comply with ACA expectations. This project aimed to conduct an exploratory study of breastfeeding policies and resources available at 26 institutions in a state university system. Survey data was collected from wellness liaisons at each institution. This survey was organized into four categories of breastfeeding support: policy, resources, lactation space availability, and time allotted. Survey results were analyzed with univariate statistics. A total of 17 (65.3%) liaisons participated in the study. Overall, wellness liaisons were unfamiliar with their policies, and resources varied significantly between institutions. Only half (50%) of the liaisons reported a formal breastfeeding policy on their campus. A majority (64.3%) of participants reported specific locations available for pumping at their institutions, though only 42.1% were lactation-specific spaces. Survey findings suggest variation amongst institutions regarding breastfeeding and leave policies and a lack of familiarity among wellness liaisons of resources for employees returning to work postpartum. Findings highlight the need for improved policies that protect female employees, especially regarding breastfeeding.
Keywords
Pregnancy, Breastfeeding, Lactation, Maternity, Workplace, Pumping, Support, Workplace Facilities, Employer Support
Breastfeeding Policies and Resources for Postpartum Employees are Lacking Across a University System
In the U.S., working women often return to work 8-12 weeks after giving birth. It is critical for worksites to provide time, space, and support for women to combine breastfeeding upon return to work. The Affordable Care Act requires organizations with more than 50 employees to provide a space other than a restroom and a reasonable amount of time during the workday for women to express breastmilk. Workplace breastfeeding policies establish organizational expectations for breastfeeding support and ensure that supervisors and employees comply with ACA expectations. This project aimed to conduct an exploratory study of breastfeeding policies and resources available at 26 institutions in a state university system. Survey data was collected from wellness liaisons at each institution. This survey was organized into four categories of breastfeeding support: policy, resources, lactation space availability, and time allotted. Survey results were analyzed with univariate statistics. A total of 17 (65.3%) liaisons participated in the study. Overall, wellness liaisons were unfamiliar with their policies, and resources varied significantly between institutions. Only half (50%) of the liaisons reported a formal breastfeeding policy on their campus. A majority (64.3%) of participants reported specific locations available for pumping at their institutions, though only 42.1% were lactation-specific spaces. Survey findings suggest variation amongst institutions regarding breastfeeding and leave policies and a lack of familiarity among wellness liaisons of resources for employees returning to work postpartum. Findings highlight the need for improved policies that protect female employees, especially regarding breastfeeding.
