Lactation Support for Breastfeeding Employees: How One Company Makes it Work

Michelman, a Cincinnati-based global developer and manufacturer of specialized sustainable chemistry used in agricultural and architectural coatings, digital printing, foodservice packaging, and advanced composites for automotive and aerospace, wanted to make their organization more welcoming for women.

In 2021, they purchased a Mamava Solo lactation pod to provide breastfeeding employees with a private and comfortable space to pump at work. They also outfitted the pod with a Medela Symphony PLUS® Breast Pump and offered the full-circle support provided by Kin (formerly known as New Moms’ Healthy Returns), a customizable program from Mamava and Medela designed to help employers support new parents at work. Melissa Young, Michelman’s Director of Global Human Resources, sees the new lactation support as a perfect fit for a company committed to sustainability: “Sustainability is not just about the environment—it’s also how we sustain our associates.”

Make it better for the next generation

Prior to installing a Mamava pod, breastfeeding employees were pumping in empty conference rooms or borrowed offices. “There really wasn’t an organized way to do it,” says Young. “When I had my children, [lactation spaces] weren’t an option for me, so I’d just accepted it and didn’t think it could be different.” But then Young started hearing from a breastfeeding coworker about her struggles to find a place to pump. “She was experiencing the same thing I’d gone through two decades earlier. So, I started to explore options to improve the conditions.”

Connect with new parents

Michelman is proud to offer lactation support as part of their comprehensive family-friendly benefits, which include 12 weeks of paid parental leave for mothers and fathers, as well as short-term disability for mothers. “We wanted to connect with new parents and lift their burdens,” says Young. “We also wanted to share information about our great benefits. Not all will breastfeed, but we want them to know if they choose to do so, we can help them.”

Put lactation front and center

Like many businesses, office space is always at a premium at Michleman. The Solo, with its small footprint, provides an all-in-one compact lactation space solution that can be easily moved to accommodate changes in need. At first, Young assumed that her breastfeeding coworkers would want the pod installed in the basement, but they told her that they wanted it close to where they worked and near the kitchen, with easy access to the fridge to store pumped milk. “Today’s parents have a different perspective than I did, and their voices are really important,” says Young. “Now when you enter the main atrium, you see the Mamava pod. It’s really a beacon of our support for moms and breastfeeding!”