Workplaces have an important role to play in supporting their staff to continue to breastfeed or express while at work.

This is the message of this week's World Breastfeeding Week - the theme being,  “Enabling breastfeeding: making a difference for working parents.”

Supporting breastfeeding staff contributes to a positive and inclusive work environment. By implementing strategies, workplaces can make a significant difference in supporting staff members who are returning to work after parental leave.

Hayley Adamson returned to work when her baby, Ollie was nine months old.

“Knowing my workplace was actively supportive of breastfeeding made preparing to return to work that much easier and gave me the confidence to continue to breastfeed him,” says Hayley.

“My workplace had a flexible work policy which allowed me to take the time I needed to express or breastfeed. I simply expressed breastmilk once a day or had my partner bring Ollie into my workplace around lunchtime,” she says.

Hayley’s workplace had several private rooms with breastfeeding signage, that everyone was familiar with, to put on the door.

The Employment Relations (Breaks, Infant Feeding and Other Matters) Amendment Act 2008 states that where it is reasonable and practicable, employers must ensure appropriate facilities and breaks are provided to staff wishing to breastfeed or express breastmilk at work.

Your workplace can provide support for staff who breastfeed in four simple steps:

Good communication – have a conversation with staff who are about to go on parental leave about the support that is in place for them when they return if they wish to breastfeed or express breastmilk at work.

Time – provide staff extended breaks (paid or unpaid) during work to breastfeed or express breastmilk on or off-site.

Space – provide staff a comfortable and private area to breastfeed or express ideally with a lockable door or obvious signage.

Support – encourage a supportive and co-operative culture amongst managers and colleagues.

For more information, visit www.workwell.health.nz/workwell_breastfeeding