Breastfeeding Friendly Businesses

The Western Wisconsin Breastfeeding Coalition and the La Crosse County Maternal & Child Health Team are teaming up to provide businesses with the opportunity to be recognized as a “Breastfeeding Friendly” workplace.

One of the most common times to stop breastfeeding is when returning to work. To help eliminate this barrier, we need support for breastfeeding in the workplace.

 

According to Section 7 of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (29 U.S.C. 207), an employer shall provide—

Sufficient break time to express milk

“A. a reasonable break time for an employee to express breast milk for her nursing child for one year after the child’s birth each time such employee has need to express the milk; and…”

Private Place for Expressing Milk​

“…B. a place, other than a bathroom, that is shielded from view and free from intrusion from coworkers and the public, which may be used by an employee to express breast milk.”

Mother's Room at Misty's Dance Unlimited

Benefits for employers who support breastfeeding

Breastfeeding employees miss work less often

Breastfeeding lowers health care costs

Lower staff turnover

The bottom line: supporting breastfeeding employees saves money.

want to be breastfeeding friendly?

Our local breastfeeding coalition, in partnership with the La Crosse County Maternal & Child Health team, can help to provide breastfeeding policy guidance, brainstorm ways to make current spaces work for private places to express milk, and find resources to help businesses achieve breastfeeding friendly designation.

In 2018, the Western Wisconsin Breastfeeding Coalition and the La Crosse County Maternal & Child Health Team are teaming up to provide businesses with the opportunity to be recognized as a “Breastfeeding Friendly” workplace.

Why Breastfeeding Friendly Businesses? 

One of the most common times women tend to stop breastfeeding is around the time that they return to work. To help eliminate this barrier, women need support for breastfeeding in the workplace. With the new provisions in the Affordable Care Act, businesses are expected to provide breastfeeding support to their employees, including a private place (other than a bathroom) to express milk and sufficient break time to express milk.

There are many benefits to businesses that support moms in their breastfeeding goals. These benefits include:

  • Breastfeeding employees miss work less often.
  • Breastfeeding lowers health care costs.
  • Lower staff turnover.

The bottom line: Supporting breastfeeding employees saves money.

Our local breastfeeding coalition in partnership with the La Crosse County Maternal & Child Health team can help to provide breastfeeding policy guidance, brainstorm ways to make current spaces work for private places to express milk, and find resources to help businesses achieve breastfeeding friendly designation.

If your local business is interested in learning more about the Breastfeeding Friendly Business Initiative, please contact Abbie Loos.

Local list of businesses recognized (updated January 2020) 
Gundersen Health System
Logistics Health, Inc.
Bethany St. Joseph Corportation
Northwestern Mutual of Onalaska
La Crosse County
Misty’s Dance Unlimited