Breastfeeding At the Worksite

In March 2007, UTHSC-H joined a growing number of cutting-edge Texas businesses by becoming designated as a Mother-Friendly Worksite. Among the many benefits of the Mother-Friendly Worksite Program are increase employee morale, greater productivity, and the improved health of the employee’s child.

Created by the Texas Legislature in 1995 and administered by the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS), the Mother-Friendly Worksite Program recognizes companies and institutions that provide for new mothers returning to work and desiring to continue breastfeed. To be designated as a Mother-Friendly Worksite, businesses and institutions must provide work scheduled flexibility to allow time for pumping breastmilk or nursing infants, offer a private space where the employee can either pump or nurse, and ensure easy access to clean running water and refrigeration.

The agency keeps a list of all Mother-Friendly Worksites in Texas on the website, http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/wichd/lactate/mother-worksites.shtm#item4.

A sampling of Texas companies that are designated as Mother-Friendly Worksites include: Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld, LLP, Dallas; Duke Energy, Houston; Electronic Data Systems, Plano; Gulf & Basco Company, Sherman; Huntsman Corp. and IBM Corp, Austin; Pizza hut, Inc., Dallas; Daingerfield-Lone Star Independent School District, Daingerfield; and Southern Warehouse Corp., Houston. Also designated are hospitals, state agencies and numerous city, county, and state health facilities.

Handbook of Operating Procedures
Policy 2.10

POLICY OVERVIEW

The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHSC-H) recognizes the benefits of breast feeding and has implemented and supports strategies and facilities in support of work site breast feeding in accordance with those standards instituted by the State of Texas. This support includes providing the work place flexibility required to schedule time to express milk; facilities that allow privacy for expressing milk; access to a clean, safe water source for washing hands and breast pumping equipment; and access to a hygienic storage alternative for the breast milk.

PROCEDURE

 UTHSC-H working mothers and supervisors should work together to plan break times when the employee can express milk during the work day. This may include shortening the lunch period or extending the work day to allow the time necessary for expressing milk. The university also has several rooms throughout the campus where nursing mothers can express milk in privacy and have access to a clean, safe water source and sink for washing hands and breast pumping equipment as well as a hygienic storage alternative for breast milk.

LACTATION ROOM INFORMATION

The health science center has set aside these locations specifically for expressing milk.  Please contact the designated person for your building to set up a schedule that will accommodate your needs.  Some of the rooms do have locks, and you will need to coordinate with your contact to retrieve the key.  If you have any questions, please contact the Work/Life Coordinator at 713-500-3013.