In today’s rapidly evolving work landscape, organizations must create an environment that supports the diverse needs of their employees. Among these needs is the invaluable journey of motherhood; particularly those who choose to breastfeed their babies. Over the last three years, we have welcomed more than 40 babies to our Flint Family, and supporting their mothers is not only a matter of empathy but also a strategic decision that benefits both the mother and our agency. Through multiple maternity leaves and new mothers returning to the workplace, we have found that providing comprehensive support to breastfeeding mothers at work is essential.
Health and Well-being
At the heart of supporting our breastfeeding mothers is a commitment to their health and well-being. The initial bonding period between a mother and her newborn child is crucial and is sometimes cut short when the mother returns to the workplace. By offering a supportive environment for new mothers, we are committing to their overall health and their families. We provide Mothers’ Rooms in each of our offices to ensure a quiet, comfortable and clean space for mothers to express milk when their babies are away, or if they choose to bring their baby to the office, they have a safe and nurturing spot to feed them on-site. We hold an Infant Friendly Workplace designation where we encourage new mothers to bring their babies to the workplace for their first six months of life, continuing that crucial bonding period.
Work-Life Balance
Maintaining a healthy work-life balance is essential for any employee’s morale and happiness. Supporting our breastfeeding mothers by allowing them time to express milk helps to advance that balance. When our mothers are confident that they can meet their nurturing responsibilities without compromising their professional commitments, they are more likely to be engaged and productive during their workday. This positive impact extends throughout their team and the entire agency, which helps foster a healthier and happier workplace culture.
Retention and Attraction of New Talent
Creating a dedicated mother’s room at our agency helps us to provide a nurturing space that empowers new mothers in successfully balancing their professional and maternal responsibilities. Additionally, by providing supportive policies for our breastfeeding mothers, we increase our likelihood of retaining talented and experienced employees who value and this support. Potential job candidates are also more inclined to join our Flint Family as we demonstrate genuine care for our employees’ needs, especially those transitioning into motherhood.
Supporting our breastfeeding mothers is only one of the multitude of benefits we offer to our new parents here at Flint Group and by being only part of the whole benefits package, it makes quite an impact. By prioritizing the health, work-life balance and overall well-being of our new and breastfeeding mothers, we aim to foster a positive, inclusive and productive work environment. And while it contributes to overall employee retention and talent attraction, our number one priority is supporting all members of our Flint Family.