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Breastfeeding at work: a spotlight on World Breastfeeding Week
Rose Mabiza
02-08-2023
World Breastfeeding Week (WBW), observed in the first week of August each year, is a significant global campaign supported by many organisations, including the World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF and Ministries of Health. This year, the focus is on breastfeeding and work, aiming to advocate for essential maternity rights that enable women to balance their breastfeeding journey with their professional responsibilities.
The key theme revolves around the idea that women should not have to choose between breastfeeding their children and their work. In this blog, we explore the significance of World Breastfeeding Week, what the law in Great Britain has to say and how the workplace can focus on supporting breastfeeding mothers.
The Theme: Breastfeeding at Work
This year's theme focuses on breastfeeding and work, aiming to advocate for essential maternity rights that support breastfeeding. These are urgent issues for ensuring women can breastfeed as long as they wish to do so: more than half a billion working women worldwide are not given essential maternity protections in national laws, and just 20% of countries require employers to provide paid breaks and facilities for breastfeeding or expressing milk.
The legal landscape in Great Britain
In Great Britain, the law acknowledges the significance of supporting breastfeeding mothers in the workplace. Mothers have the right to decide the duration of their breastfeeding journey, and employers must respect and accommodate their choice. Before rejoining the workforce, a breastfeeding mother should provide written notification to her employer about her breastfeeding status, prompting the employer to conduct a specific risk assessment. Workplace regulations mandate employers to provide suitable facilities for pregnant and breastfeeding mothers to rest.
To promote good practices, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) recommends that employers offer a private, healthy, and safe environment for expressing and storing breast milk, recognising that toilets are unsuitable for this purpose. By adhering to these guidelines, employers can create a supportive workplace environment, allowing breastfeeding mothers to nurture their infants while excelling in their professional roles.
Ways a workplace can support breastfeeding mothers
Employers can offer flexible return-to-work options, such as part-time hours or working from home. These are essential to enable mothers to ease back into their professional roles while continuing their breastfeeding journey. Flexibility not only supports women in maintaining their careers but also helps them nurture their bond with their children. Colleagues can also play a significant role in supporting breastfeeding mothers by being supportive of flexible work arrangements when women return to work.
Conclusion
World Breastfeeding Week emphasises the significance of supporting breastfeeding mothers in the workplace. This year's theme advocates for essential maternity rights, enabling women to balance their breastfeeding journey with work responsibilities. In Great Britain, the law acknowledges the importance of accommodating breastfeeding mothers, with regulations ensuring suitable facilities and, we aspire for a world that also adopts these practices.
Supporting breastfeeding at work means investing in healthier communities and workforces. As we advocate for essential maternity rights, we at The Mandatory Training Group also respect and support every woman's choices and circumstances in how they decide to feed their baby. By fostering a nurturing and inclusive environment, we can ensure that women are supported to make the best decisions for themselves and their families.
About the Mandatory Training Group
The Mandatory Training Group is one of the leading UK providers of CPDUK-accredited statutory and mandatory training, continuing professional development (CPD) courses, eLearning software and workforce development solutions for all sectors.
By making things simple and designing interactive e-learning content, we can provide meaningful training programs at all levels and enhance the capacity and resilience of individuals and organisations.
Click here to see our wide range of accredited employability skills courses and training programmes.
References and resources
National Health Service (2023) - Breastfeeding and going back to work
Pan American Health Organisation (2023) - World Breastfeeding Week 2023: Let´s make breastfeeding and work, work!
World Health Organization (2020) - World Breastfeeding Week 2020 Message
About the Mandatory Training Group
The Mandatory Training Group is one of the leading UK providers of CPDUK-accredited statutory and mandatory training, continuing professional development (CPD) courses, eLearning software and workforce development solutions for all sectors.
By making things simple and designing interactive e-learning content, we can provide meaningful training programs at all levels and enhance the capacity and resilience of individuals and organisations.
Click here to see our wide range of accredited employability skills courses and training programmes.
References and resources
National Health Service (2023) - Breastfeeding and going back to work
Pan American Health Organisation (2023) - World Breastfeeding Week 2023: Let´s make breastfeeding and work, work!
World Health Organization (2020) - World Breastfeeding Week 2020 Message
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