Was trolling the Ross website in a masochistic exercise and found this new
press release:
http://abbott.com/ross/index.cfm?id=690
ABBOTT LABORATORIES, WORKING MOTHER MEDIA JOIN FORCES TO PROMOTE WORKPLACE
SUPPORT FOR BREASTFEEDING
-PROGRAM AIMS TO REDUCE PRIMARY BARRIER TO EXTENDED BREASTFEEDING-
Phoenix, Arizona, February 20, 2004 - Abbott Laboratories' Ross Products
Division today announced the launch of a major new program, Business Backs
BreastfeedingT, designed to help companies more effectively support mothers
who continue to breastfeed after returning to work. Partnering with Working
Mother magazine, Abbott kicked off the program at the annual Alliance for
Work/Life Progress conference in Phoenix.
The turnkey program, Business Backs Breastfeeding: A Flexible Workplace
Program for Breastfeeding MothersT, provides instructions, tips and template
materials to help employers support extended breastfeeding. The program is
based on a model that has proven to increase breastfeeding rates by as much
as 30 percentage points. Key elements of the how-to program include
recommendations for implementing "mother-friendly" workplace policies;
ensuring access to a secure, comfortable, clean and private space to pump
breast milk; and enabling women to integrate pumping breaks into their work
schedules.
"As an infant nutrition company, our goal is to help ensure optimal
nutrition for infants, whether mothers choose breastfeeding, infant formula
or a combination of both," said Susan May, M.D., F.A.A.P., director of
medical communications at Abbott's Ross Products Division and clinical
associate professor of pediatrics at The Ohio State University.
"Breastfeeding is the gold standard for infant nutrition, but returning to
work is a primary barrier to extended breastfeeding. Clearly, more can be
done to support breastfeeding moms in the workplace. We are partnering with
Working Mother to help employers understand that both businesses and
employees benefit from workplace lactation programs."
"Women with infants and children are one of the most important segments of
the U.S. workforce," said Carol Evans, president and CEO of Working Mother
Media. "Workplace programs for breastfeeding moms help attract and retain
employees, while at the same time providing real health benefits for women
and infants. Working Mother is proud to partner with Abbott, a premier
company for working mothers, in encouraging employers to do more to support
a mother's choice to continue to breastfeed when she returns to work."
Joining Ross Products and Working Mother magazine in promoting the workplace
lactation program is the Families and Work Institute (FWI), a leading
nonprofit research center focused on the changing workforce and changing
families. FWI will help distribute Business Backs Breastfeeding to its
Corporate Leadership Circle and the more than 600 other companies it works
with.
"This is a program that benefits companies, employees and babies," said
Ellen Galinsky, president of the Families and Work Institute. " It is
clearly a win-win for all involved."
U.S. breastfeeding rates are continuing to rise, following a trend
established in the 1990s. However, the duration of breastfeeding remains a
challenge - especially among women who work outside the home. Women who work
full-time start breastfeeding at virtually the same rate as all mothers - 69
percent, compared to 70.1 percent. But by the time their infants are six
months old, breastfeeding rates for full-time working moms drop about 25
percent below those of mothers who do not work outside the home.
Abbott is promoting Business Backs Breastfeeding through a national
business-to-business campaign highlighting the employer benefits of extended
breastfeeding - including lower health care costs, reduced absenteeism and
heightened employee loyalty and productivity. Abbott will make the program
available at no charge to business, health, and work/life organizations and
their members, as well as government agencies and women's and children's
advocacy groups. Abbott also will work with human resources and work/life
professionals to encourage implementation of the program in their
workplaces. The Business Backs Breastfeeding program can be downloaded at
www.ross.com.
Working Mother magazine is using Business Backs Breastfeeding to underscore
that workplace lactation programs are a critical element in the work/life
arena, further emphasizing the importance of creating beneficial, productive
work environments for all working mothers.
Business Backs Breastfeeding was developed in consultation with lactation
experts who have implemented similar programs in a variety of businesses.
The program also was reviewed by a panel of experts from the fields of
medicine, infant nutrition and lactation consulting, all members of the Ross
Breastfeeding Advisory Board.
About Working Mother
Celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2004, Working Mother magazine reaches
nearly 3 million readers and is the only national magazine for
career-committed mothers. Its 18-year signature initiative, 100 Best
Companies for Working Mothers, is a benchmark for work/life practices in
corporate America. The magazine is part of Working Mother Media (WMM), which
also owns the National Association for Female Executives (NAFE), NAFE
Magazine, and the annual 100 Best Companies WorkLife Congress. In 2003, WMM
published its first annual list of the Best Companies for Women of Color.
About Abbott's Ross Products Division
As a world nutrition leader, Abbott's Ross Products Division is committed to
helping people of all ages meet their nutritional needs. Abbott promotes
breastfeeding as the best source of infant nutrition. For mothers who cannot
or choose not to breastfeed - or who wish to supplement breastfeeding -
Abbott offers a broad line of infant formulas including Similac AdvanceR,
Isomil AdvanceR and NeoSure AdvanceR. Additionally, Abbott's Ross Products
Division pioneered the market for adult nutritionals more than three decades
ago. Abbott's adult nutritional family of products includes EnsureR,
GlucernaR and ZonePerfectT. For more information about Ross Products, visit
www.ross.com.
About Abbott Laboratories
Abbott Laboratories is a global, broad-based health care company devoted to
the discovery, development, manufacture and marketing of pharmaceuticals,
nutritionals and medical products, including devices and diagnostics. The
company employs more than 70,000 people and markets its products in more
than 130 countries. Abbott ranked in the top 10 of the 100 Best Companies
for Working Mothers in 2003.
--------------------------------------------
What a classic Trojan horse! Anyone care to place bets on the "help" that
these programs will offer? Or how many coupons? "Gift" packs?
Anna Swisher, MBA, IBCLC
Abundant Blessings
Austin, TX
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