Mother-Friendly Worksite Program UPPS No. 04.04.61

Issue No. 1

Effective Date: 07/27/2012

Review: July 1 E5Y

01. POLICY STATEMENTS

01.01 This UPPS establishes policies and procedures for the Texas State University Mother-Friendly Worksite Program to be administered in accordance with Texas Health and Safety Code §165.003 which recognizes that a mother is entitled to breastfeed her baby in any location in which the mother is entitled to be.

01.02 Texas State University is committed to providing and promoting a work environment that is supportive of nursing mothers and encourages breastfeeding of their children following their child’s birth. Management and employees are encouraged to have a positive, accepting attitude toward employees opting to breastfeed their children.

01.03 Benefits of the program include:

a. Healthier babies – Research shows that breastfed babies get sick less often and have fewer visits to the doctor than babies that receive formula. No formula can duplicate the special nutrients that human milk provides.

b. Increased attendance – Due to less time lost for care of sick children;

c. Reduced cost – Due to fewer insurance claims for sick children and mothers;

d. Reduced turnover – Due to mothers opting to return to work because private locations are provided for milk epression; and

e. Increased morale – Due to the university’s support for breastfeeding employees.

02. PROCEDURES FOR IMPLEMENTATION

02.01 Managing Break Time

a. Nursing mothers of children less than one year may use reasonable break time as needed for milk expression. The frequency and duration of breaks for this purpose may vary as determined by the needs of the mother. This is considered paid time; however, nursing mothers should first utilize their normal break periods.

b. Any questions arising to the reasonableness of the frequency and duration of breaks will be determined by the department head. Appeals should be directed to the divisional vice president or designee.

c. Supervisors and managers are responsible for ensuring that the duties of the nursing mother are covered during her expression breaks.

02.02 Educational Information

a. Informational materials about breastfeeding are available to employees at www.worklife.txstate.edu.

b. This policy is included in the Staff Handbook and the Faculty Handbook.

c. Human Resources will notify all employees about this policy during New Employee Orientation.

d. Supervisors are responsible for alerting pregnant and breastfeeding employees about this policy for breastfeeding support.

02.03 Space

a. A list of private rooms available for employees to express milk is located at www.worklife.txstate.edu. Employees may check out a key to use the room as needed. Contact information to obtain keys for each room is also listed on the website. Each room is equipped with an electrical outlet, and either a sink or access to a women’s restroom nearby for cleaning up. Most rooms also have a small refrigerator. Expressed milk should be stored in the employee’s personal cooler or in a common refrigerator.

b. When more than one employee needs to use the private room, employees will need to work together and coordinate with the key contact person for the room to negotiate milk expression times to meet everyone’s needs. The Work Life coordinator in Human Resources serves as the central point of contact.

c. If an employee prefers, she may also express milk in her own private office, or in another private location agreed upon in consultation with the employee’s supervisor.

03. REVIEWERS OF THIS UPPS

03.01 Reviewers of this UPPS include the following:

Position Date

Director, Human Resources July 1 E5Y

Chair, Faculty Senate July 1 E5Y

Chair, Staff Council July 1 E5Y

04. CERTIFICATION STATEMENT

This UPPS has been approved by the following individuals in their official capacities and represents Texas State policy and procedure from the date of this document until superseded.

Director of Human Resources; senior reviewer of this UPPS

Vice President for Finance and Support Services

President