This document discusses the benefits of establishing lactation programs in the workplace. It notes that lactation programs provide important health benefits for both employees and employers. For employees, lactation programs support healthier babies and mothers as well as work-life balance. For employers, lactation programs improve compliance with laws, reduce healthcare costs, increase employee satisfaction and retention, and provide a recruiting advantage. The document provides steps for starting a lactation program, including establishing a team, gathering data, obtaining approval, implementation, communication, and assessment. Resources for additional information on lactation programs are also included.

1. Copyright © 2012 Raytheon Company. All rights reserved.
Customer Success Is Our Mission is a registered trademark of Raytheon Company.
Kate Maxwell & Jessica Rearick
Raytheon Company
Lactation Programs in the Workplace:
An Important Benefit and a Vital Retention Tool for Women in STEM

2. Agenda
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 Introduction
 The case for workplace lactation programs
 Steps to institute a program in your company
 Resources
 Q&A

3. Introduction to Lactation Programs
 What is a corporate lactation program?
 Who are we and why do we care?
 Why should YOU care?
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Co-workers and
employers are
key players in the
support of
breastfeeding!
http://www.donenaturally.com/fathers-belong-at-breastfeeding-support-groups/

4. The Case for Lactation Programs
 Benefits to Employees
– Healthier babies
– Healthier mothers
– Postpartum weight loss
– Reduced cost for feeding infants
– Helps with the “work/life” struggle!
 Benefits to Employers
– Compliance with the law
– Reduced healthcare costs for employees and their dependants
– Fewer days of lost employee work due to illness
– Satisfied employees, and increased employee retention
– Recruiting tool for female employees
– Potential for employer recognition in the community
– Overall cost savings of $3 for every $1 invested in breastfeeding support
by companies (Corporate Voices - Benefits to Business)
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5. Steps to starting a lactation program
 Establish a team of stakeholders
 Perform data gathering
 Obtain approval
 Implement the program
 Communicate the program to employees
 Gather feedback and assess results
 Iterate (as needed)
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6. Resources
 http://www.womenshealth.gov/breastfeeding/government-in-action/business-
case-for-breastfeeding/
 http://www.businessgrouphealth.org/pub/f2ffe4f0-2354-d714-5136-79a21e9327ed
 http://www.usbreastfeeding.org/Portals/0/Publications/Workplace-2002-USBC.pdf
 http://www.cdc.gov/breastfeeding/pdf/bf_guide_2.pdf
 Laws: http://www.dol.gov/whd/regs/compliance/whdfs73.htm
Courtesy of http://www.businessgrouphealth.org/pub/f2ffe4f0-2354-d714-5136-79a21e9327ed
Helpful statistics:
•Only 25% of employed women with children under age one combine working and
breastfeeding for at least a month.
•For every 1,000 babies not breastfed, there are an extra 2,033 physician visits, 212 days in the
hospital and 609 prescriptions filled.
• One-day absences to care for sick children occur more than twice as often for mothers of
formula fed infants.
•A study of multiple companies with lactation support programs found an average retention rate
of 94%.
•In the past twenty years, the percentage of new mothers in the workforce has increased by
more than 80%.

7. Questions?
Comments?
We’d love to hear
your experience!
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Contact us:
kate.maxwell@raytheon.com
jessica.rearick@raytheon.com