Breastfeeding in the workplace: What Filipino working moms really need

What Breastfeeding Moms Really Want at Work

With the signing of the Expanded Breastfeeding Promotion Act of 2009, certain provisions were added to help support and encourage women who are breastfeeding in the workplace. However, not everyone has complied and there are even moms who are not aware of these rights.

For more breastfeeding working moms to enjoy these benefits, there must be stricter implementation guidelines to ensure that companies are adhering to the law. A more widespread awareness program must also take place to ensure that women know what their rights are.

Employers should have an open dialogue with their employees to find out what they really need and want to make breastfeeding in the workplace easier for them.

We talked to some breastfeeding working moms to find out what is in their wish list.

Nice, Clean Nursing Room

May Gonzales, Service Delivery Manager and mom of 1, says that a nice, clean nursing room would be good to have so that breastfeeding moms like her can pump their breast milk privately. Bernadette Hernandez Herbosa, Senior Customer Support Executive, wife to an OFW and mom of 3, adds that a comfortable couch, a refrigerator for breast milk storage, water dispenser to keep moms hydrated, reading materials and soothing music (to keep moms relaxed and to stimulate their minds to produce more milk) will be great additions too.

Lactation Policy

The company must also add a lactation policy in the company handbook. However, having these policies is not enough. According to Nina Atienza, mom of 3, employee in a pharmaceutical company and LATCH peer counselor, it is likewise important to ensure that these policies are disseminated and understood well by all employees so that everybody would be aware of the rights of breastfeeding moms.

Understanding Boss and Respectful Co-workers

Even when there is a breastfeeding policy at work sometimes other people still don’t understand the need of a mom to leave her workstation to pump milk. May Navarro says that it would be helpful if bosses and co-workers would respect their breast milk pumping schedule. It’s already challenging enough juggling one meeting after another and pump in between. The last thing breastfeeding moms need is someone giving them a hard time about it.

Longer Maternity Leave/ Flexi-time or Work-from-home Privileges

There are moms who feel that the two to three-month maternity leave privileges after giving birth is not enough. Some moms, like Rhiz Ramos - Baluyot, a former full time working mom who has been breastfeeding exclusively, would like a longer maternity leave privilege. If not, the employer can at least give the employee a flexible work schedule or an opportunity to work from home.

Office Daycare Center

Rhiz Baluyot also thinks that an office daycare center would be a great idea. It will be of great help to moms whose nannies suddenly resign. If moms can leave their babies in the daycare center, it would not only avoid absences or leaves but also give moms an opportunity to directly breastfeed their babies.

Breastfeeding Support Group

Breastfeeding can be challenging for some moms. In order for them not to give up breastfeeding, they need a strong support system who will continue to encourage them and help assist them when they experience problems. Nina Atienza believes that having a support group of moms in the workplace will be a big plus.

These are just some of the things that would greatly help moms in the workplace achieve breastfeeding success. Employers should at least do their part by listening to these valid concerns and try to do what they can to improve the working conditions for their breastfeeding employees. ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Janice Lim If you have any insights, questions or comments regarding the topic, please share them in our Comment box below. Like us on Facebook and follow us on Google+ to stay up-to-date on the latest from theAsianparent.com Philippines!

Written by

Janice Lim

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