Breastfeeding in the Workplace: Attitudes Toward Multiple Roles, Perceptions of Support, and Workplace Outcomes

• DOI: 10.1089/bfm.2021.0119
• Publication Date: 2021-09-28T21:03:10Z
• Authors: Elaina Ross; Alesia Woszidlo
• Keywords: Perceived Organizational Support

Objective: American women are consistently tasked with breastfeeding, while returning to work, but little research examines how perceive support in the workplace and their own working outcomes. This study examined associations among breastfeeding women's perceptions of (i.e., managerial, organizational, co-worker, time, physical environment), attitudes toward multiple roles, outcomes affective commitment, job satisfaction, productivity). Materials Methods: Survey data from 109 mothers who have or currently breastfeeding/pumping human milk at were collected analyzed. Results: Results indicated significant positive relationships roles productivity. In addition, significantly associated both commitment as well satisfaction. Finally, our sample employees returned work after having a baby primarily for financial reasons, do not generally feel very supported workplace. Conclusions: Overall, organizations can promote more investment satisfaction by providing explicit communication about breastfeeding-supportive policies all employees. These findings underscore importance organizational coworkers, which ultimately influences success organization whole.