The researchers recommend the development of a Baby Friendly Workplace Initiative (BFWI), providing education to both employees and employers about the legislation, their obligations and responsibilities as well as the importance of breastfeeding for the long term health of mothers and babies, staff retention, reduced sick leave and increased productivity of female employees.
What employers have to do – from Employment New Zealand
Employers have to give breastfeeding breaks and appropriate facilities for women who want to breastfeed or express milk for their babies at work or during the working day, where this is reasonable and realistic in the circumstances (taking into consideration the employer’s operational environment and the employer’s resources). The breaks are unpaid and in addition to rest and meal breaks (unless the employee and employer agree otherwise). If employers don’t do this, the Employment Relations Authority could make them comply or give them a penalty.
A Ministry of Health report states that mothers returning to work in the early post-partum fall roughly into two categories – those who return to work for their career, and those who return for economic reasons. The latter tend to have less control and flexibility in their working conditions, and less power to gain the right employment conditions in order to continue breastfeeding. Māori and Pacific mothers are most likely to fall into this second group.
The report also states that with the right support, mothers can effectively continue breastfeeding while working. The best success seems to be achieved by taking leave for as long as possible post-birth, and initially returning to work only part-time.
Did you return to work soon after having your baby? Did you manage to continue breastfeeding? Did you find returning to work made it not possible to continue breastfeeding? Please leave us a comment below, letting us know how it worked for you.
Hannah Schenker is a freelance writer, editor and regular contributor to The Natural Parent Magazine. She lives with a touch of magic in Golden Bay, New Zealand.
