Policies Aren’t Enough

Abstract

Background: Formal policies can establish guidelines and expectations for workplace breastfeeding support. However, interpersonal communication between employees and managers is the context where such policies are explained, negotiated, and implemented. As such, this article focuses on interpersonal communication about breastfeeding support in the workplace. Objective: The objective of this article is to describe interpersonal communication related to workplace breastfeeding support. Methods: We conducted 3 focus groups with 23 business representatives from a rural city in the Midwest United States. Participants were recruited through the area chamber of commerce. We analyzed the transcripts of the focus groups and derived themes related to the study objective. Results: Our analysis of responses from business representatives in the focus groups revealed 3 major themes about interpersonal communication concerning breastfeeding support in the workplace: (1) interpersonal communication may be more important than written communication for enacting breastfeeding support, (2) multiple factors (age, sex, and power dynamics) complicate the interpersonal communication required to enact breastfeeding support in local businesses, and (3) positive interpersonal communication strategies may improve the success of workplace breastfeeding support. Conclusion: Interpersonal communication between employees and managers is where the specifics of workplace breastfeeding support (eg, policies) are determined and applied. Interpersonal communication about breastfeeding can be challenging due to issues such as age, sex, and power dynamics. However, positive and open interpersonal communication can enhance workplace breastfeeding support.

Maternity Leave Length and Workplace Policies' Impact on the Sustainment of Breastfeeding: Global Perspectives

“…The importance of employer communication as a determinant of the actual use of workplace breastfeeding policies by employed mothers was emphasized in a study by Anderson et al (2015). In this U.S. study, employed mothers felt interpersonal communication was more effective than written notices about breastfeeding policies.…”

The “pumpgate” incident: Stigma against lactating mothers in the U.S. workplace

“…In addition to negative attitudes toward public and extended breastfeeding, many women have faced barriers when attempting to pump breastmilk at work (Anderson et al, 2015). Lack of receptivity to pumping breastmilk in workplaces and inadequate accommodating facilities for working mothers to express breastmilk have contributed to early termination of breastfeeding (Baker, Sanghvi, Hajeebhoy, Martin, & Lapping, 2013); conversely, providing support at work facilitated greater breastfeeding duration (Anderson et al, 2015;Tsai, 2013). Yet, some workplaces have only minimally accommodated lactating mothers who return to work and who need to express breastmilk several times during the workday (Hirani & Karmaliani, 2013).…”

“…A coworker might have to fill in for someone on maternity leave and do additional work, further contributing to a negative attitude. New mothers returning to work after maternity leave need a sanitary, comfortable facility, apart from the restroom to be able to pump breastmilk during the workday with dignity (Anderson et al, 2015;Lennon & Willis, 2015;Spitzmueller et al, 2015).…”

“…Breastfeeding rates in the United States are lower than in many other developed countries (Save the Children, 2015). A critical barrier to the continuation of breastfeeding is returning to work after maternity leave (Anderson et al, 2015). Foss (2013) described maternal inexperience and lack of breastfeeding support, limited maternity leave, difficulty of pumping breastmilk in professional settings, and lack of public support for extended breastfeeding and negative reactions to breastfeeding in public as impediments to continuation of breastfeeding.…”

Blending Qualitative, Quantitative, and Rhetorical Methods to Engage Citizens in Public Deliberation to Improve Workplace Breastfeeding Support

“…In addition to the community reports generated from this project, the research team also disseminated project findings in scholarly outlets and maintains a social media presence. For instance, our team published an article in the Journal of Human Lactation about the importance of interpersonal communication about breastfeeding in the workplace, using data from the business leaders' focus groups (Anderson et al, 2015). Additionally, the research team was invited to publish an article on the importance of health communication and rhetoric collaborations in making rhetorical studies of health visible to the public (Kuehl, Drury, & Anderson, 2015, forthcoming).…”