We already know working mothers are the true superheroes. We even ran an entire series earlier this year to brag about them! With August being National Breastfeeding Month, we thought it would be a great time to highlight a benefit that we’re passionate about at Protiviti — one that provides nursing mothers with comfortable planning options that help sustain their busy careers, lives and overall well-being.
“I try to be as transparent as possible about this benefit, because there’s not a spotlight on nursing, and you can feel like you’re on your own island trying to figure things out.“
– Julia, Senior Manager, Business Performance Improvement
Lucky for us, we were able to interview one amazing mama who has taken advantage of our partnership with the Limerick Workplace Lactation Program. In an industry where there is often some form of travel, we frequently hear that moms feel they have to make a tough decision between nursing and a successful career. That’s why we love Limerick! Limerick is a nursing consultation service which administers Protiviti’s Workplace Lactation Program. The program offers prenatal, postnatal and on-going support to our moms. The service also offers complimentary and convenient shipping of breastmilk for working moms when they are on the road.
Julia is a Senior Manager who spends about 70% of her time on the road as a part of our Business Performance Improvement practice. When she became a mom, Julia learned about Protiviti’s partnership with Limerick and realized that she didn’t need to make a sacrificing decision. The Limerick service helps support her in her current job role, and she wants more working mothers to know about its value. “I try to be as transparent as possible about this benefit,” says Julia about the Limerick program, “because there’s not a spotlight on nursing, and you can feel like you’re on your own island trying to figure things out.” Julia continues by explaining, “Limerick differs from other consultation services. Other services told me that I should stop traveling for work while I am nursing. But Limerick actually provided me with a plan that worked for me with my career.”
When it comes to benefits, Protiviti’s number one priority is making it easier for our employees to make personal decisions for themselves and their families. Our partnership with Limerick greatly assists working mothers in this area. One of the best parts? This benefit is available prior to the birth of your child! Julia suggests getting educated on nursing in your final trimester, stating, “nursing may seem like it’s a really easy and natural but it can be difficult and frustrating. The Limerick service helped support me by providing educational materials and consultations after my daughter was born so I didn’t have to figure things out on my own. ” Not only does Julia take advantage of the consultation services, but she also utilizes the shipping service twice a week by leveraging the easy travel kits Limerick ships to her hotel room equipped with bottles, cooler ice packs and shipping label all ready to go!
“Nursing may seem like it is a really easy and natural but it can be difficult and frustrating. The Limerick service helped support me by providing educational materials and also consultations after my daughter was born so I did not have to figure things out on my own.”
So what’s the alternative for women who don’t have a benefit like this available to them? “For me, I likely wouldn’t be able to nurse,” says Julia. “The fact that I can ship my breastmilk may not seem like a big deal, but it is much more convenient than having to pack my own supplies and manage transport. I doubt most women would want to sustain the process on their own and may consider a different career.”
The working mothers in our organization are invaluable and we stand behind them and their ability to make the best decisions for their families and for themselves. So, today we end the ‘hush’ around this shy subject. We also welcome open dialogue in regards to personal well-being and the benefits for our working moms, because, at the end of the day, they deserve a round of applause, not a compromising decision.
*If you are a Protiviti employee who would like more information around benefits for working parents, please contact your local HR lead or local champion of the Protiviti Parents’ Network.
