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Breastfeeding in the Workplace

Updated 12/8/2009

Why Employers Care

Breastfeeding is important because it may help to mitigate health care costs, lost productivity and absenteeism by:
  • Reducing the risk of some short- and long-term health issues for women and children;
  • Decreasing employee absences associated with caring for a sick child;
  • Promoting an earlier return from maternity leave; and
  • Increasing retention of female employees.
More than 70% of new mothers now follow their doctor's advice to breastfeed immediately after birth. However, women employed full-time are less likely to initiate breastfeeding and to continue breastfeeding once they return to work.

What Can Employers Do?

Employers can create tailored workplace breastfeeding programs and policies. The following publications and tools provide guidance to employers regarding the development, implementation and evaluation of workplace breastfeeding programs.

Investing in Workplace Breastfeeding Programs and Policies: An Employer's Toolkit covers the essential information employers need to understand the components of breastfeeding programs, get started and measure success.

Valuable resources include:
  • Breastfeeding program options;
  • Employer case studies; and
  • Materials for employees.


Workplace Breastfeeding Programs: Employer Case Studies presents exemplary case studies to provide guidance to employers regarding the development, implementation and evaluation of workplace breastfeeding programs.

      CIGNA Corporation
      Corning Incorporated
      CVS Caremark
      Occidental Oil and Gas Corporation
      Texas Instruments Incorporated



Workplace Breastfeeding Program Appraisal Tool can be used to help employers assess current program components and receive suggestions to make their programs more comprehensive.










Workplace Breastfeeding Educational Module

Coming soon!









All Business Group Breastfeeding in the Workplace Resources/Publications

This link will take you to a chronological list of Business Group resources that are related to this topic. For additional search options please visit Publications. Most resources are available only to members of the National Business Group on Health and are designated with .


Other Breastfeeding in the Workplace Resources



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