breastmilkCounts.com With the State of Texas designation as a Mother-Friendly Worksite, the university affirms its sensitivity to needs of nursing mothers. This public recognition will be (is) another signal as we competitively and inclusively recruit and seek to retain high-quality faculty, staff, and students.breastmilkCounts.com

E. Jill Pollock
Associate Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer
Texas A & M

Mother-Friendly Worksite - Hundreds of Texas businesses are committed to supporting breastfeeding mothers as they return to work.Mother-Friendly Worksite - Hundreds of Texas businesses are committed to supporting breastfeeding mothers as they return to work.

These companies have earned a Mother-Friendly Worksite certification from the state. If you are pregnant or might become pregnant, working at a Mother-Friendly Worksite will make your transition back to work much easier.
What is a Mother-Friendly worksite?
To earn their certificate, businesses must show that they:
Allow work schedule flexibility, including scheduling breaks and work patterns to provide time for pumping.
This does not need to be extra paid break time. If needed, employees can shorten their lunch hour, come in a little early or leave late to make up the time.
Provide a private room that locks for pumping.
The room should have an electrical outlet, a small table and a chair. It should not be a bathroom (for hygienic/safety reasons). Many employers provide a hospital-grade multiuser electric breast pump, but this is not required. Read More
Offer access to a clean, safe water source and a sink for washing hands and rinsing out any needed breast-pumping equipment.
The sink does not have to be in the pump room, but should be nearby, hygienic and easily accessible.
Provide access to hygienic storage alternatives for the mother’s breast milk.
A refrigerator is preferable, but an employee’s personal cooler with ice packs is also an option.

Why should companies become Mother Friendly?
It reduces healthcare costs.
Breastfed infants are healthier. They are 60% less likely to develop ear infections and lower-respiratory infections. They are less likely to suffer from diarrhea, meningitis, allergies and diabetes. And moms who breastfeed have a lower risk of breast and ovarian cancer and postpartum obesity.
It lowers absenteeism.
Breastfeeding mothers are half as likely to miss a day of work for a sick child compared to mothers of formula-fed infants. (Cohen, Mrtek & Mrtek, 1995) Read More
It reduces turnover.
Supporting breastfeeding employees allows women to return to work and still provide the best nutrition for their babies. This reduces turnover and retraining costs.
It increases morale and productivity.
Women workers are more loyal to companies that help them be good mothers. This helps them be more satisfied with their jobs.
It earns the business a positive image in the community.
The Mother-Friendly Worksite window decal shows the community that the business is concerned for the health of its employees and their children.
Customers like it.
The Mother-Friendly Worksite window decal shows breastfeeding moms that they are valued customers. Breastfeeding moms are more likely to become repeat customers if they know a business supports breastfeeding.

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