In the Surgeon General’s 2011 Call to Action to Support Breastfeeding, she notes that early return to work is among the major barriers women face in following the American Academy of Pediatrics recommendation to breastfeed exclusively for the first 6 months of life, and continue breastfeeding for at least the first 12 months. Research has shown, though, that when a woman’s workplace offers support and accommodations, she will breastfeed longer.

With this in mind, the San Francisco Breastfeeding Promotion Coalition, with the San Francisco WIC program,  Department of Public Health, the Department on the Status of Women, and the Small Business Commission, is organizing a forum on workplace lactation accommodations. This forum is geared towards business professionals and aims to address their needs in regards to providing lactation accommodations for employees. Speakers will offer information about:

• the benefits of breastfeeding for babies, mothers, and employers;
• laws in place regarding the accommodation of breastfeeding employees;
• various strategies businesses use to accommodate employees
• how to create policies for lactation accommodation

In addition, a toolkit with resources will be provided to attendees to take with them. A continental breakfast will be served and continuing education credits have been approved for HR professionals.