Texas Tech Designated as “Mother-Friendly Workplace”

A federal grant will soon go to improve nursing facilities at Texas Tech, but not the kind affiliated with the School of Nursing.

Tech will soon become a “Mother-Friendly Workplace” through a grant from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, to begin implementing policies that support infant nursing.

The Texas Department of State Health Services has designated Tech as a pilot worksite during the grant period to test strategies, tools, and messaging regarding worksite lactation support.

Funds from the grant will be used to purchase nursing supplies such as breast pumps, and at least five rooms will be renovated as worksite lactation support areas across the campus by January 2012.

Tech’s Gender Equity County conducted a survey in 2008 which indicated that there is a need among female faculty, staff, and students for private workspace on campus for pumping natural milk.

Vice President of Institutional Diversity Juan Muñoz said “As we have in so many other fields and endeavors, Texas Tech will become a leader in support of women’s health in the workplace, and designation as a Mother-Friendly Workplace will show our commitment to that goal.”

According to the DSHS, there are multiple benefits to having a Mother-Friendly Workplace, which include reduced employee turnover, shorter maternity leave, increased productivity with new children, and fewer health insurance claims.

A task force has been created to identify campus sites for the private lactation support rooms, as well as ensuring that the grant money is effectively utilized and reporting results to the DSHS.