The Business Case for Breastfeeding: Identifying Which Barriers and Facilitators Employers Prioritize When Supporting...

In the United States, 66.7% of women who had a baby in the past year have returned to work, yet many struggle to maintain their breastfeeding goals after their return. Research identifies common barriers and facilitators to providing lactation accommodations, but these studies predate recent state and federal laws that strengthen workplace lactation protections.

To identify what employers currently prioritize as the main barriers and facilitators to supporting breastfeeding employees in the workplace.

A cross-sectional study was conducted with 40 employers in a mid-sized city in Connecticut. Surveys were distributed via door-to-door outreach, email, and phone calls, and the Active Implementation Framework was used to inform survey questions. Data were analyzed both quantitatively and qualitatively.

Employers identified "happy employees" as the top benefit of supporting breastfeeding employees in the workplace, while "finding a private space for employees to pump or breastfeed that's not a bathroom" was the top challenge. Employers mentioned themes like "increasing breastfeeding knowledge and communication" and "receiving funding and financial support" as the main ways to overcome challenges. However, only 40.0% and 32.5% of employers provided their employees with time and space to breastfeed, respectively, and fewer than 50% of employers acknowledged several known benefits of supporting breastfeeding employees in the workplace as benefits for their own business.

Understanding what employers currently prioritize as the main barriers and facilitators to supporting breastfeeding employees in the workplace can help improve employer buy-in and refine strategies for public health intervention.