Breastfeeding Friendly Employer Award

The Pennsylvania Breastfeeding Coalition wants to recognize breastfeeding-friendly employers that support their employees by providing and maintaining high-quality lactation support programs and appropriate onsite environments.

Applicants will:

REVIEW THE APPLICATION

to determine which selection criteria are relevant to your workplace. If there are some simple changes you can make to increase the strength of your application, consider making those before applying.

SUBMIT THE APPLICATION

along with any supplemental materials, such as a copy of your lactation policy, or relevant photos of your lactation space.

RESPOND

if asked follow-up questions or if selected for an award. Award recipients will receive an electronic and a paper certificate and will be featured on our webpage.

Selection Criteria and Application

Lactation Space

The space provided for an employee to express breast milk during the workday can be an important factor in supporting their desire to continue breastfeeding.

Lactation Policy

Having a clear and widely communicated lactation policy helps to keep all employees informed about their options and sets expectations for both lactating parents and their coworkers and supervisors.

Break Time

The length, structure and nature of breaks provided for lactating employees can be an important factor in supporting their desire to continue breastfeeding.

Support from Leadership

The actions of leadership can have significant influence over whether a lactation policy is successfully implemented or if it fails to provide the intended support for employees.

Download the application.

Review the informational packet which explains the selection criteria.

This award provides an opportunity for businesses to gain public recognition for the important work they are already doing in support of their employees. The Pennsylvania Breastfeeding Coalition would like to honor these achievements and show Pennsylvania communities what it looks like when businesses rise to meet their needs.

Award Recipients

PA Department of Health Lycoming County State Health Center

TBD

Hampden Medical Center- Penn State Health

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Hampden Medical Center’s program supports breastfeeding/chest-feeding and an environment of wellness for staff and students as they transition back to work or studies after giving birth. The new facility hosts five mother’s lounges that provide breastfeeding people, including visitors, with a private space to express milk.

In addition, the Human Resources Department promotes the Lactation Support Policy during new employee orientation and provides flexibility for work arrangements and direct breastfeeding when possible for up to 2 years after the birth of a child.

“Returning to work after maternity leave can be difficult,” said Jessica Harter, a nurse in Inpatient Women’s Health. “I am grateful to work in a hospital that offers resources to help me continue providing the best nutrition to my baby.”

When onboarding new employees, leaders use the Lactation Support Accommodation Request Form to encourage early conversations with supervisors about space to pump, break time and milk storage. This process alleviates employees’ concerns so they can plan ahead and choose human milk feeding prior to the birth of their child.

“We were intentional in extending lactation support services beyond our Women and Babies Center to employees and visitors,” said Kathryn Lally, lactation program manager for Hampden Medical Center. “Our goal is to create a culture that promotes family and well-being and gives people the resources for important work-life balance.”

Carnegie Mellon University

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