(INDIANAPOLIS) — With caregiver and family support from the workplace becoming a high priority for many Hoosiers, it’s increasingly essential for companies to create and sustain related initiatives to support employee well-being and attract and retain a strong workforce. One such option is offering a lactation program. The Wellness Council of Indiana (WCI), a subsidiary of the Indiana Chamber of Commerce, recently developed the Indiana Employer Lactation Program Guide in partnership with the Indiana Department of Health.
“Workplace lactation support benefits both employers and employees,” relays Ashley O’Rourke, WCI executive director. “For working mothers, it reduces stress and barriers to breastfeeding, contributing to better health outcomes for both mother and child. For employers, lactation support has been shown to improve employee retention, reduce absenteeism and enhance workplace satisfaction.”
According to a study by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, businesses that provide lactation support experience a 94% retention rate among employees after maternity leave, compared to the national average of 59%. Additionally, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that absenteeism related to infant illness is reduced by up to 50% in companies with lactation programs.
The Indiana Employer Lactation Program Guide is designed to provide practical guidance and turnkey solutions to implementing, sustaining and improving a well-rounded workplace lactation program. The publication walks the employer through how to accommodate breastfeeding mothers and build a truly supportive workplace. Specifically, readers will discover how to create effective lactation policies, design supportive lactation spaces, meet legal requirements and promote and communicate their support for new parents.
“Supporting lactating employees is not just about meeting a legal requirement. It is about creating a workplace where parents can remain healthy, engaged and productive without unnecessary barriers,” says O’Rourke. “The Indiana Lactation Program Guide helps employers move from uncertainty to action by translating policy into practical, real-world solutions that support both business performance and working families.”
Access the Indiana Employer Lactation Program Guide at www.wellnessindiana.org/indiana-employer-lactation-program-guide. For more on WCI’s upcoming offerings and trainings for employers and the workforce on well-being and other health-related initiatives, visit www.wellnessindiana.org/events.
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The Indiana Chamber partners with 25,000 members and investors – representing over four million Hoosiers – to achieve the mission of “cultivating a world-class environment which provides economic opportunity and prosperity.”
The Wellness Council of Indiana, a subsidiary of the Indiana Chamber, works to improve the quality of life for Hoosiers by empowering employers and communities to create thriving places to live, work, learn and play through connection, collaboration, education and evaluation.
