WIC Nutrition

Texas Mother-Friendly Worksite Program

• What's a Mother-Friendly Worksite?
• Texas law: Breastfeeding in Public
• Mother-Friendly Worksite Application
• Sample Mother-Friendly Worksite Policies
• Listing of Texas Mother-Friendly Businesses
• Benefits Of becoming Mother-Friendly
• Ordering Breastfeeding Support Materials for Employers and Employed Mothers
• Tips for Working Mothers Who Want to Breastfeed
• Spanish Version — Trabajando y alimentando
• Physician's Support Letter to Employer of Breastfeeding Mother

What’s a Mother-Friendly Worksite?

• have flexible work schedules to provide time for expression of milk;
• provide an accessible location allowing privacy;
• provide access to a nearby clean and safe water source and a sink for washing hands and rinsing out any breast-pump equipment; and
• provide access to hygienic storage alternatives for the mother to store her breastmilk.

Texas Statutes
Health & Safety Code Title 2.
Chapter 165. Breast Feeding

Added by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., Ch. 600, SS1, eff. Aug . 28, 1995.

(A) A business may use the designation "mother-friendly" in its promotional materials if the business develops a policy supporting the practice of worksite breast-feeding that addresses the following:

1. work schedule flexibility, including scheduling breaks and work patterns to provide time for expression of milk;
   
   
2. the provision of accessible locations allowing privacy;
   
   
3. access nearby to a clean, safe water source and a sink for washing hands and rinsing out any needed breast-pumping equipment; and
   
   
4. access to hygienic storage alternatives in the workplace for the mother's breast milk.

Sec. 165.004. SERVICES PROVIDED BY STATE AGENCIES. Any state agency that administers a program providing maternal or child health services shall provide information that encourages breast-feeding to program participants who are pregnant women or mothers with infants.

Sec. 165.031. LEGISLATIVE RECOGNITION. The legislature recognizes a mother's responsibility to both her job and her child when she returns to work and acknowledges that a woman's choice to breast-feed benefits the family, the employer, and society.

Sec. 165.032. DEMONSTRATION PROJECT.

(A) The department shall establish a demonstration project in Travis County to provide access to worksite breast-feeding for department employees who are mothers with infants.

(B) The department shall administer the demonstration project and shall determine the benefits of, potential barriers to, and potential costs of implementing worksite breast-feeding support policies for state employees.

Sec. 165.033. BREAST-FEEDING POLICY. The department shall develop recommendations supporting the practice of worksite breast-feeding that address the following:

1. work schedule flexibility, including scheduling breaks and work patterns to provide time for expression of milk;
   
   
2. the provision of accessible locations allowing privacy;
   
   
3. access nearby to a clean, safe water source and a sink for washing hands and rinsing out any needed breast-pumping equipment; and
   
   
4. access to hygienic storage alternatives in the workplace for the mother's breast milk.

Sec. 165.034. REPORT TO GOVERNOR AND LEGISLATURE. The department, if requested by the governor or any member of the legislature, shall submit a report on the demonstration project to the governor or that member of the legislature not later than February 1, 1997. The report must include:

1. a description of the policies developed;
   
   
2. a description of the implementation of the policies in Travis County and any problems encountered;
   
   
3. the extent of use of any breast-feeding or breast-pumping facilities by department employees;
   
   
4. a survey to assess the level of satisfaction with the breast-feeding or breast-pumping facilities and the policies by users and their supervisors;
   
   
5. the costs and benefits associated with the demonstration project;
   
   
6. a summary of issues raised by employees; and
   
   
7. a recommendation of any changes necessary for statewide implementation and strategies for implementing the policies in other state agencies.

Application to become a Texas Mother-Friendly Worksite

Breastfeeding support materials for employers and employed mothers

Potential benefits of being a Mother-Friendly company

• reduced turnover
• shorter maternity leave
• lower absenteeism due to a sick child
• higher morale among employees
• increased productivity among employees with new children
• enhanced loyalty among employees
• enticing recruitment incentive
• improved positive image in the community
• lower and fewer health-insurance claims

Last Updated May 15, 2007