Not that I needed another reason to be grateful for many of the workplace benefits my current employer provides but I can’t help but be incredibly thankful that during Connecticut’s “snowtober” as it’s being called, my employer has allowed several of her employees the ability to work from home, be flexible with our work hours and has even said we can bring our children into the office if need be.

If you haven’t heard, Connecticut (and surrounding states), got hit hard by a snow storm right before Halloween. Most of the state has been without power for 7 days now, and our neighborhoods look like a tornado blew through and knocked all the trees (and power lines) down. Considering it’s hovering around 20-30 degrees at night, the fact that we have no heat in our home means I’m camped out at my parents’ house, who fortunately do have power and heat. I’m even more fortunate that I’m allowed to work remotely until power is restored in my area.

More than 150 companies have discovered that enforced separation of parents from their newborns when they return to work is no longer necessary. These organizations have hosted an astonishing 1,800 babies over the years and have seen consistent benefits from allowing babies at work, including skyrocketing morale, increased teamwork, higher retention rates, and extremely loyal employees and clients.

The Parenting in the Workplace Institute (PIWI) has been locating and researching baby-inclusive organizations for the past five years. We have assisted more than 20 organizations to start successful babies-at-work programs, including Hot Studio, an experience design company; HometownQuotes, which provides insurance quotes, and W.S. Badger Company, a manufacturer of organic body care products.

Bravo, Surgeon General Regina Benjamin!  Yesterday, the nation’s top doctor had the courage to say simply and starkly that mothers who breastfeed their babies need more support.  In the “Call to Action to Support Breastfeeding,” the Surgeon General challenged all sectors of our society to support mothers who choose to breastfeed their babies.

“Many barriers exist for mothers who want to breastfeed.  They shouldn’t have to go it alone. Whether you’re a clinician, a family member, a friend, or an employer, you can play an important part in helping mothers who want to breastfeed.” — Surgeon General Dr. Benjamin

As evidence for the need for more support, the Surgeon General noted that while 75% percent of babies are breastfed after birth, only 13% are exclusively breastfed up until 6 months as recommended.  She also notes that the rates are particularly low among African-American infants.

A recent Government Accounting Office report found that the number of women managers increased only 1 percent between 2000 and 2007, from 39 to 40 percent. Women’s progress into management has stalled despite their equal representation in the workforce and their majority in colleges and universities.

Why such a small increase? As we observe National Work & Family Month, the acronym WOMEN reminds us of the barriers still to overcome.