Mothers At Work

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The Benefits of Workplace Breastfeeding Programs

Benefits for Your Organization

Reduced Absenteeism and Health Care Costs. The health benefits of breastfeeding for both mother and baby can significantly reduce absenteeism rates among breastfeeding employees—and health care costs for your organization.

A study conducted by Kaiser Permanente, one of the largest HMOs in the country, found that breastfeeding employees save their employers money because they have fewer medical infant claims and lower absenteeism rates than mothers who do not nurse.

One year after Aetna started its lactation program (in 1997), it estimates a savings of $1,435 per employee on medical claims—plus additional savings attributed to reduced absenteeism rates in nursing employees. (Mothers who formula-fed their babies missed work to care for their infants, on average, three more days per year than mothers who nursed their babies.) The total company savings amounted to $108,737 in 1997—approximately a three-to-one return on investment in medical claims alone.

According to a 1995 study conducted at Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (by Cohen And Mark), nursed infants were 36 percent healthier than formula-fed babies, which reduced working mothers’ absenteeism rates by 27 percent. Mothers of formula-fed babies missed work more often because their babies were ill three times more than nursed babies.

Increased Productivity, Recruitment and Retention. Workplace lactation programs are recognized by employers and employees alike as an innovative, family-friendly benefit that can boost employee morale and, in turn, lead to increased employee retention and recruitment. The significantly lower incidence of illness in the breastfed infant allows parents more time for other duties and reduces parental absence from work.
Potential for Faster Return to Work by Mothers. Support in the form of workplace lactation programs may encourage or enable women who are returning to work to take shorter maternity leaves.

According to Working Mother magazine (May 1998), John Hancock Mutual Life Insurance Company in Boston reported that their lactation program not only saved them money (due to reduced health care costs and absenteeism rates among breastfeeding mothers) but their breastfeeding mothers were also more willing to take shorter maternity leaves.

New mothers say that if they perceive their workplace as unfriendly to breastfeeding, they may take longer to return to work, if they return at all. In addition, the longer women stay away from work, the more likely it is that they won’t return. (Gannett News Wire, Nov. 5, 1997)

In short, workplace corporate lactation programs can provide reduced health care costs and increased productivity to improve an organization’s bottom line.

This publication is for general informational purposes only and it is not intended to provide any reader with specific authority, advice or recommendations. Where you deem necessary, we suggest that you seek advice regarding your particular situation from the appropriate professional.