Workplace Support
Women who
are able to reach their goals of having
families, as well as their career goals, are
better, happier employees.
Nowadays
many women choose to breastfeed their babies.
However, it may not be easy for them to continue
breastfeeding once they return to work. Support
from the employer, therefore, is vital for a
mother to maintain successful breastfeeding,
which benefits the mother, the baby, and the
company.
To help
cultivate a baby friendly environment in Hong
Kong, we highly recommend employers of all
industries to develop a Mother Baby
Friendly Workplace for their valued
employees.
What is a Mother Baby Friendly
Workplace?
A
“Mother Baby Friendly Workplace”is a workplace
with appropriate facilities and policy
to accommodate the needs of breastfeeding
employees, who are indeed important assets of
the company. It acknowledges the intimate
relationship between meeting their personal
needs and enhancing work productivity. By
providing appropriate space and privacy for milk
expression by employees during breaks, the
employer encourages a positive attitude towards
the practice of breastfeeding, thereby improving
the health and future of the
community.
Potential
Benefits for a Mother Baby Friendly
Company
- Being known as a “mother
baby friendly company”, the employer creates a
positive impact on society and enhances
corporate image
- Facilitates recruitment
and reduces turnover as women employees are
attracted to jobs that acknowledge and meet
their needs
- Increases morale,
commitment & productivity due to job
satisfaction
- Reduces absenteeism of
women employees because of improved health of
their children
Potential
Benefits for Mother
Employees
- Facilitates postpartum
recovery
- Reduces incidence of
illness in infants
- Provides best nutrition
for infants
- Creates a special bond
between mother and infant
- Enhances the mother’s
self-esteem and confidence
- Reduces the risk of
breast cancer
To become
a Mother Baby Friendly Workplace in Hong
Kong
Some
suggestions to combine Work and
Breastfeeding:
- A designated clean,
private area for the mother to express
breastmilk
- A comfortable chair, an
electric outlet for breast pump, and a sink for
washing hands and equipment
- A small refrigerator for
safe storage of expressed breastmilk
- Permission for employees
to express breastmilk during short breaks
- Encouragement of
management and co-workers to have a positive,
accepting attitude towards working women
breastfeeding
BFHIHKA honours companies that comply
with all the 5 listed points. Details are
available upon
request.
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