HUMAN RESOURCES OF HKU

Breastfeeding-Friendly Working Environment

Dear Colleagues,

With an increased awareness of breastfeeding among Hong Kong families and the implementation of a series of supportive measures by the Department of Health, there is an increasing number of mothers breastfeeding their newborns. The University recognizes employees’ choices to breastfeed, accepts and supports employees returning to work after delivery to continue breastfeeding. We aim at providing an appropriate and friendly environment for breastfeeding employees so that breastfeeding is compatible with work. All employees are encouraged to accept and support the choices of colleagues returning to work after delivery to continue breastfeeding.

Expectant mothers may discuss with their supervisors as soon as possible about their wishes to continue breastfeeding after returning to work, to facilitate a good preparation by both parties in a comfortable timeframe. Faculties/ departments/ centres/ units would consider the practical situation and provide an appropriate and friendly environment including the basic measures below:

• Allowing lactation breaks for employees to express breastmilk within one year after delivery (for example, two thirty-minute lactation breaks or an hour in total for an eight-hour working day);

• Providing a space with privacy (please see Note below), an appropriate chair, a table and an electrical socket for connecting breastmilk pumps;

• Providing a refrigerator for storing breastmilk (a pantry refrigerator will do).

Note: Possible ways are using existing rooms such as conference rooms, multifunction rooms or changing room temporarily for milk expression; or setting up a screen or curtain in a secluded corner for expressing breastmilk and displaying a signage.

Further information on the existing breastfeeding rooms in HKU, antenatal and breastfeeding information and other useful links can be found in a website newly developed by the University Health Service which can be viewed from the link below:
http://www.uhs.hku.hk/he/breastfeeding/main.html

With your help and support, we hope to provide a more breastfeeding-friendly work environment for our colleagues.


Dr. Steven Cannon
Executive Vice-President
(Administration and Finance)



「母乳餵哺友善工作環境」

各位同事：

隨着本港家庭對母乳的認識增加及衞生署落實一系列支援母乳餵哺的措施，本港以母乳餵哺初生嬰兒的母親持續上升。大學接納和支持有僱員於產後返回工作崗位時仍選擇餵哺母乳。為此，大學落實推行「母乳餵哺友善工作環境」，讓正在餵哺母乳的僱員在工作間擠母乳以繼續餵哺孩子。各位同事須以正面和接納的態度支持餵哺母乳的同事。

懷孕僱員應盡早與主管商討有關她們返回工作崗位後，將持續餵哺母乳的意願，以便僱傭雙方有充分時間在工作間作好準備。部門主管可按實際情況為授乳員工提供一個合適、友善的環境，包括以下基本措施：

• 容許員工於產後一年內利用授乳時段擠奶（在8小時上班時間內約有兩節30分鐘授乳時段);

• 提供有私隱的空間(*見下面的註釋)，並設置舒適的座椅和電插座(以連接奶泵)，以供授乳員工擠奶之用;

• 提供可妥善存放母乳的冷藏設施 (一般的雪櫃便可)。

*註釋: 可靈活運用現有資源，安排短暫借用現有房間，如會議室、多功能房或更衣室等。在安靜的角落加設屏風或簾子，暫時供擠母乳之用，並掛上告示。

更多關於港大校園育嬰室，產前及母乳餵哺的資訊和相關連結，可瀏覽大學醫療保健處網頁內新增的「母乳餵哺資訊」網頁，網址如下:
http://www.uhs.hku.hk/he/breastfeeding/main.html

康諾恩博士
行政及財務副校長