Tell SC to Support Mothers in the Workplace
Breastfeeding is the gold standard of infant feeding due to multiple health benefits to mother and baby. This method of feeding is endorsed by many professional groups including The World Health Organization, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the USDA, and many others. South Carolina has encouraged breastfeeding and acknowledged it as a public right.
Breastfeeding support at the workplace can positively impact the bottom line by lowering healthcare costs, enhancing productivity, decreasing absenteeism, improving employee satisfaction, increasing retention and improving corporate image.
The workforce is changing dramatically. More than 50% of adult women are in the workforce. Two-thirds of new employees will be women starting or returning to work. Seventy five % of working women become pregnant during their working lives.
The proposed legislation would include:
Employers with more than 25 employees must have a written policy supporting women who want to continue breastfeeding when returning to work.
For women who need to use a breast pump at work, employers must make reasonable efforts to provide a space for using the pump. The space must be clean, private, have adequate lighting, an electrical outlet, be near the employee's workspace and not be a bathroom. It should have access to a clean safe water source and a sink.
Employee must be allowed to pump on break time.
An employer shall not be liable for storage or refrigeration of breast milk, payment for break time in addition to established breaks or payment of overtime while a nursing mother uses the pump.
Employers will be recognized as mother-friendly work places.
An employer shall not discriminate against an employee who has elected to exercise her rights.
Breastfeeding is the gold standard of infant feeding due to multiple health benefits to mother and baby. This method of feeding is endorsed by many professional groups including The World Health Organization, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the USDA, and many others. South Carolina has encouraged breastfeeding and acknowledged it as a public right.
Breastfeeding support at the workplace can positively impact the bottom line by lowering healthcare costs, enhancing productivity, decreasing absenteeism, improving employee satisfaction, increasing retention and improving corporate image.
The workforce is changing dramatically. More than 50% of adult women are in the workforce. Two-thirds of new employees will be women starting or returning to work. Seventy five % of working women become pregnant during their working lives.
The proposed legislation would include:
Employers with more than 25 employees must have a written policy supporting women who want to continue breastfeeding when returning to work.
For women who need to use a breast pump at work, employers must make reasonable efforts to provide a space for using the pump. The space must be clean, private, have adequate lighting, an electrical outlet, be near the employee's workspace and not be a bathroom. It should have access to a clean safe water source and a sink.
Employee must be allowed to pump on break time.
An employer shall not be liable for storage or refrigeration of breast milk, payment for break time in addition to established breaks or payment of overtime while a nursing mother uses the pump.
Employers will be recognized as mother-friendly work places.
An employer shall not discriminate against an employee who has elected to exercise her rights.
With continued support and education, we can repudiate the mistaken belief that formula is a suitable substitute for breast milk. While breast milk is a living substance that changes daily to meet an infant's needs, formula never changes, and nothing in it is alive. Breastfeeding moms need every bit of encouragement they can get.
What right does an employer have to deprive a newborn baby of the natural nourishment given them by our Creator-God. I would think if an employer values their female employees, they would allow this very reasonable request.
As a soon to be breastfeeding mother, I support this petition and proposed legislation whole heartedly. My workplace already complies to these standards and so should others!
I want my grandchildren and other children in North Carolina to have the benefit of being breastfed for as long as possible. This can only be accomplished in families where Mom needs to work by providing a supportive work environment.
I am a recently trained neonatologist and a pediatrician of seventeen years preparing a move to Florence. I look forward to working with the SC Breastfeeding Action Committee
Upon returning to work after the birth of my son, I was frustrated by the lack of support and in some cases open hostility towards my choice to breastfeed my son. Women should not have to be pressured into not nursing/pumping because it is inconvenient for others. We have our children to think about and should not have to sacrifice their needs for the preferences of co-workers and bosses. Furthermore, much research has shown that children who are breastfeed have fewer health problems later on, which decreases the public health burden!
I dream of building a method to pool resources and generate a large scale change in breastfeeding social norms, awareness, and availibility and ease of peer counselor home/workplace visits. More people need to be aware that we can make this change. Once people are aware they can help, we need to give them a way to do it. Educate as many people as possible and send them on out into the community to facilitate breastfeeding success and longevity!
After my first pregnancy, I was lucky enough to have a supportive employer. This time I am not sure how I am going to protect my child through breastfeeding and still support my family financially. Please protect my right to continue breastfeeding at work.
When I did go back to work, I was given the option to go home to breast-feed my child. My employer knew they would lose an employee if it was a matter of my stopping breastfeeding or working. they opted to allow a flexible workschedule. This opened the door for others in my workplace.
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breast is best! please support mothers in providing the best nutrition possible for their children!
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SC's breastfeeding rates are dismal, and one of the best ways we can help nursing mothers is by debunking the idea that you can't be a nursing mom and a working mom, and refuting the notion that breastfeeding and pumping is something private that has to be kept out of public. Let's do this!
Support mothers who breastfeed their children!
