Good company support

WHoops...posted this to misc.kids.pregnancy by mistake...

I wanted to share an interesting tidbit that I got from the
administrator of our Nursing Mother's Program (NMP) here at work. I
work for Kodak and I was flabbergasted to find out that they give all
women who work for the company and have a baby a brand new Pump In
Style breastpump! They also provide locked pumping rooms and offer a
discount on breastfeeding supplies (like bags, etc)at a local medical
supply shop. After I had my baby and nursing was established, I sent
an email to the woman who runs the program. I received a packet of
info in the mail that contained a purchase order for the local medical
supply shop. I took the P.O down there and they handed me a PIS!

My DS just turned one recently, and I got an email from the
adminstrator of the program (Deb). She asked if I was still
nursing/pumping and if I wanted to share my thoughts about the NMP
program. I sent an email back that I was still nursing and let her
know how wonderful I thought the program was. She sent another note
back asking me if I would share with her when I decide to wean. She
said that based on the information she has gathered, Kodak moms wean
much later than both the national and regional averages! (she didn't
give specific data) How cool is that? I found it interesting what an
effect good company support can have for working moms!

Back to lurkdom...

Joanne M.
Mom to Nathan - 09/28/02

That is SOO awesome. If only more companies were like that, women might
actually nurse longer and feel so good about it. I think Motorola (or it
might be Intel) also has a similar program here in AZ. Yeah for them!
"jmm_ny" wrote in message
m...
WHoops...posted this to misc.kids.pregnancy by mistake...

I wanted to share an interesting tidbit that I got from the
administrator of our Nursing Mother's Program (NMP) here at work. I
work for Kodak and I was flabbergasted to find out that they give all
women who work for the company and have a baby a brand new Pump In
Style breastpump! They also provide locked pumping rooms and offer a
discount on breastfeeding supplies (like bags, etc)at a local medical
supply shop. After I had my baby and nursing was established, I sent
an email to the woman who runs the program. I received a packet of
info in the mail that contained a purchase order for the local medical
supply shop. I took the P.O down there and they handed me a PIS!

My DS just turned one recently, and I got an email from the
adminstrator of the program (Deb). She asked if I was still
nursing/pumping and if I wanted to share my thoughts about the NMP
program. I sent an email back that I was still nursing and let her
know how wonderful I thought the program was. She sent another note
back asking me if I would share with her when I decide to wean. She
said that based on the information she has gathered, Kodak moms wean
much later than both the national and regional averages! (she didn't
give specific data) How cool is that? I found it interesting what an
effect good company support can have for working moms!

Back to lurkdom...

Joanne M.
Mom to Nathan - 09/28/02

jmm_ny wrote:
I wanted to share an interesting tidbit that I got from the
administrator of our Nursing Mother's Program (NMP) here at work. I
work for Kodak and I was flabbergasted to find out that they give all
women who work for the company and have a baby a brand new Pump In
Style breastpump!

That is amazing! Good for them.

--
iphigenia
www.tristyn.net
"i have heard the mermaids singing, each to each.
i do not think that they will sing to me."

jmm_ny wrote:
WHoops...posted this to misc.kids.pregnancy by mistake...

I wanted to share an interesting tidbit that I got from the
administrator of our Nursing Mother's Program (NMP) here at work. I
work for Kodak and I was flabbergasted to find out that they give all
women who work for the company and have a baby a brand new Pump In
Style breastpump! They also provide locked pumping rooms and offer a
discount on breastfeeding supplies (like bags, etc)at a local medical
supply shop. After I had my baby and nursing was established, I sent
an email to the woman who runs the program. I received a packet of
info in the mail that contained a purchase order for the local medical
supply shop. I took the P.O down there and they handed me a PIS!

My DS just turned one recently, and I got an email from the
adminstrator of the program (Deb). She asked if I was still
nursing/pumping and if I wanted to share my thoughts about the NMP
program. I sent an email back that I was still nursing and let her
know how wonderful I thought the program was. She sent another note
back asking me if I would share with her when I decide to wean. She
said that based on the information she has gathered, Kodak moms wean
much later than both the national and regional averages! (she didn't
give specific data) How cool is that? I found it interesting what an
effect good company support can have for working moms!

Back to lurkdom...

Joanne M.
Mom to Nathan - 09/28/02

We have a similar program at my office. We have to pay $100 for our PIS -
while not free, that's still a good discount!

(jmm_ny) wrote:
... I work for Kodak ... they give all
women who work for the company and have a baby a brand new Pump In
Style breastpump! They also provide locked pumping rooms and offer a
discount on breastfeeding supplies (like bags, etc) at a local medical
supply shop. After I had my baby and nursing was established, I sent
an email to the woman who runs the program. I received a packet of
info in the mail that contained a purchase order for the local medical
supply shop. I took the P.O down there and they handed me a PIS!

My DS just turned one recently, and I got an email from the
adminstrator of the program (Deb). She asked if I was still
nursing/pumping and if I wanted to share my thoughts about the NMP
program. I sent an email back that I was still nursing and let her
know how wonderful I thought the program was. She sent another note
back asking me if I would share with her when I decide to wean. She
said that based on the information she has gathered, Kodak moms wean
much later than both the national and regional averages! (she didn't
give specific data) How cool is that? I found it interesting what an
effect good company support can have for working moms!

Joanne M.
Mom to Nathan - 09/28/02

wow! thanks for letting us know! i see this as a great reason to buy
kodak film over fuji film. i like to support companies that treat their
employees right.

--
-- Vicki
Married DH May 21, 1995
Ima shel DS, born 11/16/99; and DD, born 5/19/02.
"Stay-at-home" Ima since October 2002.
An ounce of mother is worth a pound of clergy. -Spanish proverb
I may not currently be pregnant, but I look pregnant, does that count?

"Vicki S" wrote in message
...
snip wow! thanks for letting us know! i see this as a great reason to
buy
kodak film over fuji film. i like to support companies that treat their
employees right.

--
-- Vicki
Married DH May 21, 1995
Ima shel DS, born 11/16/99; and DD, born 5/19/02.
"Stay-at-home" Ima since October 2002.
An ounce of mother is worth a pound of clergy. -Spanish proverb
I may not currently be pregnant, but I look pregnant, does that count?

I'd be interested to know if Kodak employees in the UK receive the same.
Somehow I doubt it, companies over here that support pumping and/or
breastfeeding are very thin on the ground.

Check this out from today's paper:

Working mums lose right to breastfeed
by ANDREW LEVY, Daily Mail

omen who bring their babies to work have no right to take breaks to
breast-feed, a tribunal has ruled.

The landmark decision could wreck the plans of thousands of mothers trying
to
juggle a career and family life, especially those who leave their babies in
workplace creches.

Recent years have seen an explosion in the number of such creches that she
should take more maternity leave - which would be unpaid - if she wanted to
continue with breast-feeding. On her return from maternity leave she was due
to go
to the engineering college at RAF Cranwell in Sleaford, Lincolnshire. It is
not known if the college has creche facilities.

But Mrs Williams, who had been earning £30,000 a year as an engineer
specialising in weapons-related systems, promptly left the RAF and took
another job.

The Employment Appeal Tribunal in London ruled that it was unfair to expect
an employer to give her time off to breast-feed.

Yesterday's was the second hearing in the case. She had been victorious at
an
earlier tribunal at Southampton but lost after the MoD appealed.

Last night Mrs Williams, who lives in Bristol with husband Hywel, vowed to
continue her fight, which has been funded by the Equal Opportunities
Commission.


'I feel very strongly that women should not have to choose between
breast-feeding and returning to work,' she said. 'Employers can easily make
reasonable
adjustments.'

Employment law expert Paul Mander said the appeal tribunal's ruling extended
well beyond the RAF.

'It means employers don't have to make any concessions for women who come
back from maternity leave and want to breast-feed or give natural milk in a
bottle,' he explained.

'It even affects businesses where there are creche facilities where mothers
were previously able to go at certain times to feed their children.

'And it involves mothers whose children are cared for during the day at home
or elsewhere. These women need time during the day to express milk that they
can take home. Employers are no longer obliged to give them that time.'

The Government currently offers some firms tax breaks to set up childcare
facilities for employees. Earlier this year, the Metropolitan Police
announced
plans for creches in every police station in London.

Equal Opportunities Commission chairman Julie Mellor said: 'We are
disappointed that the tribunal did not rule that women are automatically
protected from
discrimination when they have returned from maternity leave and are
breast-feeding at work.

'Practical realities of modern mothers lives mean that many women return to
work while they are breast-feeding.'

Around one million women take maternity leave each year. They must receive
90
per cent of pay for six weeks after the birth of their child, after which
the
amount drops gradually.

Department of Health guidelines stated that children should be breast-fed
for
at least six months.

Studies revealed infants who were given their mother's milk half a year or
more had a lower risk of illnesses that those who were bottle fed. They also
had
higher mental skills at age five.

Melanie Every of the Royal College of Midwives, which supported the
guidelines, said of the ruling: 'Although they might be acting within the
letter of the
law . . . for most women it will have a detrimental effect.

'It could lead to hardship for many mothers out there.'

Organisations representing mother's rights are hoping the original decision
will be upheld after the appeal tribunal ordered the case to be reheard by a
further tribunal.

An MoD spokesman said: 'Servicewomen wishing to return to work will be
expected to complete their full range of duties - which means not taking
time off to
breast-feed.'

Nikki

Vicki S wrote:

wow! thanks for letting us know! i see this as a great reason to buy
kodak film over fuji film. i like to support companies that treat
their employees right.

And maybe a good reason to write a note to Kodak, letting them know that
their consumers appreciate that fact : )

--
iphigenia
www.tristyn.net
"i have heard the mermaids singing, each to each.
i do not think that they will sing to me."

wrote in message ...
SNIP

I'd be interested to know if Kodak employees in the UK receive the same.
Somehow I doubt it, companies over here that support pumping and/or
breastfeeding are very thin on the ground.

SNIP article about mom denied the time off to breastfeed


I'm not sure if the employees in the UK receive the same benefit. I
don't even know if Kodak in the UK is technically a separate company
or not. I imagine the benefits packages are different because of the
different countries. I never thought about the other things like the
NMP!

Joanne M.
Mom to Nathan - 09/28/02

Vicki S wrote in message ...

wow! thanks for letting us know! i see this as a great reason to buy
kodak film over fuji film. i like to support companies that treat their
employees right.

Vicki,

would you mind if I shared your post with our Nursing Mother's Program
administrator? I'm sure she'd love to hear this!

And for all you digital people out there...did you know www.ofoto.com
is owned by Kodak??

Joanne M.
Mom to Nathan - 09/28/02

jmm_ny wrote:
Vicki S wrote in message ...

wow! thanks for letting us know! i see this as a great reason to buy
kodak film over fuji film. i like to support companies that treat their
employees right.


Vicki,

would you mind if I shared your post with our Nursing Mother's Program
administrator? I'm sure she'd love to hear this!

And for all you digital people out there...did you know www.ofoto.com
is owned by Kodak??

Joanne M.
Mom to Nathan - 09/28/02

I appreciate Kodak's support of mothers, too. I'm a Kodak customer, and
a nursing mom (who takes TONS of photos of her little one). I'm going
to share this info with people from my company, too!

- Jennifer