George Washington University

Employer's Perspective:
By supporting breastfeeding mothers in the workplace, we believe we are not only saying to the employee that we care about their health and that of their child, but we are supporting a behavior that has bottom line benefits by way of lower health costs, fewer sick days, and increased employee loyalty and retention. Without proper support, employers put women in the terrible position of deciding between something that is important to them and their baby or leaving their job - neither of which are good alternatives for anyone. At GW we are committed to being a great place to work by continually looking for ways to better support our employees and their families. Since first receiving the Breastfeeding Friendly Workplace Award in 2012, we have continued to increase the number of lactation rooms on our campuses, expanded our GW La Leche League meeting options, added a special Parent Guidance program through our work-life services, approved a formal "Lactation Support for Nursing Mothers" policy, and in 2014 will be introducing six weeks of paid parental leave for our staff.

Employee's Reaction:
As a mother of a newborn, there are so many challenges that we face, especially as we prepare to go back to work. For moms who choose to breastfeed, it is particularly difficult to all of a sudden be away from your baby during the workday, yet still have to express breast milk at least as often as the baby feeds to maintain the milk supply the baby needs. For me, having an employer that accommodated my choice to express milk at work eliminated some of the stress of being a working mom. My supervisor.s support showed me that I am a valued employee, which raised morale and encouraged me to do my best work. An environment in which I can pursue my lifestyle choices and still satisfy the expectations of my employer is an ideal situation and, I believe, mutually beneficial for us both.

-Charys W.



P.O. Box 29214, Washington, DC 20017 • Tel 202-470-2732 • email info@dcbfc.org

Medical Disclaimer: The information presented here is not intended to diagnose health problems, breastfeeding problems, or to take the place of professional medical care. If you have persistent breastfeeding problems, or if you have further questions, please consult your health care provider. The DC Breastfeeding Coalition does not share partnership with, or have any vested interest in, any of the businesses that may appear on this site, or sites that may be accessible by links herein contained.