The Black Woman's Guide to Breastfeeding by Katherine Barber

Author:Katherine Barber
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Sourcebooks
Published: 2010-03-29T00:00:00+00:00

Before the Talk

Do your homework. Your boss will to want know what's in it for the company. See, breastfeeding your baby does not rank high on the list of priorities for your place of business. Time is money for all companies. Even time off for maternity leave is seen as damaging to a company's productivity. Let's face it: we don't live in the most mother/baby/family-friendly country. A simple look at our maternity leave practices proves that fact. In many European countries, women are given extended, paid maternity leave to care for their babies. We get a measly six weeks to be with a newborn, or twelve if we have the time saved up or use the Family Leave Act. So, it will be important for you to be prepared to share with your boss how supporting a breastfeeding staff member can positively affect the workplace. Here are points that you can share with your employer about the benefits of having a breastfeeding member on the team.

Less absenteeism. Breastfed babies are healthier than their formula-fed peers. Women who breastfeed tend to take off less time from work to take care of sick babies because of the health benefits of breast milk. This means fewer calls at the start of a shift to say “I can't come in because my baby is sick.” Even men whose wives are breastfeeding will have to take off less time to care for a sick child. When a staff person has to take a day (or more) off, it affects other workers' productivity as well. She'll tend to be distracted throughout her day, again affecting company productivity. Think about this… an employee will take an average of: one to two days off for a child with an ear infection; two to three days off for a child with complications from the ear infection; one to two days off for a child with allergies; and two to seven, or more, days for a child with pneumonia, asthma, bronchiolitis, or other respiratory infections.

Increased morale. There are few things more productive than a happy worker. When employees know that their employer cares about them and their family, they are apt to be punctual, more devoted to the company, and willing to go the extra mile. When staffers benefit from the company's provision for a personal matter, they will share that information with their coworkers. A happy work environment is contagious, and can mean increased productivity across the board. By supporting a breastfeeding employee, the company shows its concern for family.

Healthier workforce. When people have to take off work to care for an ill child, they are left open to potentially contagious disease. So, if their child has a contagious illness, they will likely contract it. This will increase the likelihood of a day or more off from work. Even worse, they may come to work sick, spreading germs to their coworkers. This can lead to additional absenteeism from other employees, and a potential outbreak of the flu, stomach virus, or other illness.

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