Nestlé Supports Breastfeeding Mothers in the Workplace
New Policy Supports World Breastfeeding Week Call for Global Action to Support Women at Work
August 5, 2015, Glendale, CA /3BL Media/ – Nestlé in the U.S. is joining the global celebration of World Breastfeeding Week (August 1 to 7) by recognizing the importance of offering breastfeeding options for its employees across the U.S. and celebrating its new Global Maternity Protection Policy that fosters a supportive environment for breastfeeding mothers and ensures their job security.
The Nestlé Global Maternity Protection Policy is designed to support the 340,000 salaried and hourly employees around the globe, and 51,000 employees in the U.S.
“World Breastfeeding Week calls for worldwide action to encourage and support all new mothers in balancing breastfeeding and work,” said Judy Cascapera, Chief People Officer. “We’re embracing this call with our new maternity policy, offering our employees a conducive work environment to breastfeed by providing 190 fully-equipped lactation rooms globally and daily breaks for breastfeeding or pumping. We hope that this policy will give new mothers the flexibility to make breastfeeding their first choice for their babies’ nutrition and that they can commit to breastfeeding for a longer duration than they otherwise would have been able.”
Breast milk is widely recognized as the gold standard in infant nutrition, providing all of the nutrients and energy babies need for healthy growth and development. As a company that endeavors to give children the healthiest start in life, Nestlé supports breastfeeding in the workplace.
“At Nestlé, we are committed to enhancing the quality of life for people around the world – and this starts during the first days, weeks and months of life,” said Paul Grimwood, chief executive officer of Nestlé USA. “Our new Global Maternity Protection Policy promotes gender equality and breastfeeding in the workplace to ensure Nestlé parents feel secure and empowered to provide the best nutrition for baby.”
The new Nestlé Policy, considered to be one of the most progressive in the food and beverage industry, embraces key principles set out by the International Labor Organization Maternity Protection Convention. Some of the Policy’s most notable measures include:
- A minimum of 14 weeks paid maternity leave with the right to extend maternity leave up to six months
- Employment protection and job security
- Flexible working arrangements
- Conducive work environment to breastfeed: Daily breaks for mom to breastfeed and Access to breastfeeding rooms at work, equipped with comfortable chairs, pumps and refrigerators
- Health protection in the workplace
Recognizing that each family is unique, the measures apply to all primary caregivers of newborns, including fathers and adoptive parents.
The Policy reinforces Nestlé’s full support for the World Health Organization’s recommendation of exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life, followed by the introduction of adequate nutritious complementary foods, along with sustained breastfeeding, up to two years of age and beyond.
About Nestlé in the United States
Nestlé in the United States is committed to being a trusted leader in nutrition, health and wellness. Our diverse portfolio of food and beverage products provide nutritious options for every member of the family, including infants, toddlers, teens and adults, mature adults, and dogs and cats. Nestlé in the U.S. consists of seven main businesses: Nestlé USA, Nestlé Purina PetCare Company, Nestlé Waters North America, Nestlé Nutrition, Nestlé Professional, Nespresso and Nestlé Health Science. Together, these companies operate in more than 120 locations in 47 states and employ over 51,000 people. The United States is Nestlé S.A.’s largest market with combined product sales in the United States totaling more than $26 billion in 2014.
At Nestlé, we believe that for our business to prosper in the long term, we must create value for our employees, customers, stakeholders, consumers and the communities where we live and work. Nestlé embeds Creating Shared Value (CSV) into every part of its business, from nutrition and wellness to environmental sustainability and responsible sourcing. For more information, visit: http://www.nestleusa.com/creating-shared-value.
Contact information:
Emily Dimiero
