The Barbie the Boob and The Baby, our Breastfeeding at Work Policy

The Barbie the Boob and The Baby, our Breastfeeding at Work Policy

The Barbie, the Boob and the Baby – Amy Rothwell, Happiness Ambassador and Breastfeeding in the Workplace champion.

Oh the possibilities of a title for this blog. Putting the ‘Boo’ in Boob? Bringing your Breast Self to Work..

The first week of August is World Breastfeeding Week. The theme for 2023 was “Enabling Breastfeeding: Making a Difference for Working Parents “. However, I’m writing this a week late because even I feel I’m leaning on the ‘bring your authentic self to work’ thing here. I second guess myself, because the picture above is not what we’re conditioned to believe is acceptable in a professional environment. All of it, the pink, the boob, the child… even before we get to the anatomical puns.

I’m one of those eccentric people that feeds their kids indefinitely. I’m not interested in debating that here, only I will say that I hate how divisive the issue of infant feeding in general is. As usual, parents are pitted against one another in petty battles about this when there are barriers to breastfeeding everywhere in society, of which working outside the home is one.

Whilst I’m quite proud of myself for managing to spend the last four years dissolving bits of my own body to make sustainance for my children, it was only recently that I’ve properly recognised the help I’ve had. I’ve had lots.

It’s been a parenting choice that I’ve had much less control over than I’d imagined.

The Equality Act 2010 Code of Practice states  “…wherever possible, employers should try to accommodate workers who wish to [breastfeed]”.  This is quite a loose recommendation and one that many employers choose to safely ignore.

I don’t believe employers should be encouraging people to breastfeed. Their role involves ensuring that whatever can be done to support their employees who wish to breastfeed is done, and whatever barriers that can be dismantled are overcome.

For the entirety of my employment at Boo I have been a nursing mother. In August 2022, as I prepared to return from maternity leave for the second time I wrote this:

“We’re think we’re looking at a straightforward interaction between a mammal and her young. And yet, I was only able to stay a breastfeeding mother beyond my six months of maternity leave because I was able to work part time. I was able to work flexibly and often at or close to home. I was given the space and grace to pump milk. Layer upon layer of privilege to perform a basic human task.”

One of the first things I did when back wearing my Happiness Ambassador Hat* was co-produce a “Breastfeeding in the Workplace Policy” for Boo as part of our ongoing commitment to a happy healthy workforce. It begins: “At Boo we are committed to upholding a positive, accepting workplace culture that is free of discrimination, and supportive and sensitive to your needs.”

 Boo recognises the important role employers have in facilitating the choice to breastfeed, thereby helping to support the health and wellbeing of that employee and their child.

The policy includes:

• Workplace Culture

• Environment and Facilities

• Flexibility and Accessibility

• Mutual Commitments of Employer/Employeer

• Details of Breastfeeding in the Workplace Champion (me)

• Further Info

What has this looked like in practice for me? Wherever possible, I have been able to give my babies their morning breastfeed before I start work. This is because the focus is on whether or not I am getting my work done, not whether I start typing at 9am on the dot.

I’ve taken my breastpump to work events and felt no qualms about taking time and space to express milk when I’ve needed to.  Here’s a photo from our Wellbeing Retreat in 2019.

When I’m working remotely and am fortunate enough to have access to free childcare at the provision of my parents, I am often annexed in my their conservatory where I can breastfeed as required throughout the day.

I feel completely at ease discussing my breastfeeding needs, and have even been encouraged to champion breastfeeding, such as in our 2020 International Women’s Day Campaign.

I became so used to breastfeeding during online meetings during lockdown that I’d forget I was doing it. I usually kept my camera on and my laptop tilted upwards so nobody was aware until a wiggling foot appeared briefly on screen. Breastfeeding doesn’t require my concentration and it encourages the flow of oxytocin so I was able to be both focused and mellow, two things I aspire to be at work.

I recognise the nature of my role makes it easy for my organisation to offer me this range of choice and flexibility.  Others, such as healthcare professionals working night shifts while have a much harder time continuing to both work and breastfeed. The campaign this year has advocated for those parents most of all. You can read the key messages and recommendations here.  

It’s the duty of employers and of society to continue to promote the human rights of women and consider their specific health and wellbeing needs. At Boo we are continually seeking to do the best we can for our people.

“Caring for our Team, our Customers and our Community”

 

*(it’s not a literal hat but now I’m thinking perhaps it should be)

Further Information

Health and Safety Executive NI (2014)  A Guide for new and expectant mothers who work. www.hseni.gov.uk/new_and_expectant_mothers.pdf

Public Health Agency (2014) Promoting breastfeeding for mothers returning to work: a guide for employers. www.publichealth.hscni.net/sites/default/files/breastfeeding_and_returning_to_work_a_ guide_for_employers.pdf

Guide from ACAS https://www.acas.org.uk/sites/default/files/2021-03/acas-guide-on-accommodating-breastfeeding-in-the-workplace.pdf