Barely a month after restructuring and sending a good number of employees home, Standard Group is beginning to rebuild its image by creating a better working environment for its employees.
The company has established a Mothers Room “to provide nursing mothers with space and time for managing lactation responsibilities at work.” In a memo to staff, The Standard Group HR director said the company is committed to maintaining a family-friendly workplace and supporting the health and well-being of its employees.
The Mothers Room, which is located at the Gym is equipped with comfortable seats, electric outlets near the chairs, a trash can, a temporary separator for privacy if the space is being used by more than one nursing mother simultaneously as well as a fridge for storage and a music system for entertainment.
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“Supervisors are encouraged to give their nursing staff breaks to facilitate for this,” said Ms Kiraithe, who will be among the beneficiaries of the facility as she is also nursing a baby.
While it will be hailed as a great move, Standard Group is only complying with the Employment Act which requires employers to provide employees with nursing and lactation space. A lot of companies are implementing the requirement. Nestlé Kenya in July launched its breastfeeding facility for lactating mothers.
The breastfeeding room and equipment may vary depending with the organization, but needs to be a private, hygienic, safe and secure area where the female employees can express their milk.
Quoting research, Ms Kiraithe says in the memo that that nursing mothers’ feel supported when they have the resources to continue breastfeeding after returning to work. “Breast milk is best for babies and the benefits of breastfeeding extend well beyond basic nutrition,” she said.
“In addition to containing all the vitamins and nutrients babies need in the first six months of life, breast milk is packed with disease-fighting substances that protect them from illness,” she said. “To all nursing mothers, we hope you enjoy the room and privacy it provides.”
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