The “pumpgate” incident: Stigma against lactating mothers in the U.S. workplace

ABSTRACT

Studies conclude that breastfeeding for six months is associated with better lifelong health for the mother and the child. Mothers in the U.S. returning to work after maternity leave report difficulty with the need to take frequent breaks to pump breastmilk so many stop breastfeeding. Factors discouraging pumping breastmilk in the workplace motivated a content analysis of public comments posted in response to a legal deposition that occurred in January of 2011 in which an attorney who was a new mother was challenged about taking a break to pump breastmilk. A total of 899 public comments posted on Yahoo in 2015–2016 in response to this earlier incident were analyzed for content. Of these, only 336 mentioned breastfeeding. Overall, 148 comments showed support for breastfeeding or pumping breastmilk at work, while 182 comments showed moderate to strong disapproval (six unclassified). The majority of disapproving comments were critical of pumping breastmilk in the workplace. Implications of these findings for the duration of breastfeeding after returning to work are discussed.     

Workplace Lactation Programs in Small WIC Service Sites: A Potential Model

The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) has an opportunity to protect, promote, and support breastfeeding by implementing and modeling workplace lactation programs in small WIC agencies that may have barriers regarding the lack of both human and financial resources. The goal of this article was to describe effective strategies for agency administrators in small WIC service sites so that they can reduce barriers, successfully implement workplace lactation policies and programs, and model successful strategies for other small employers.     

护理人员遭受工作场所暴力的现况调查与分析

[目的 ]了解护理人员遭受医院工作场所暴力的现况 ,分析暴力发生的危险因素。 [方法 ]采取方便整群抽样方法 ,对广州市两家三级甲等医院的护理人员就过去1年内遭受工作场所暴力情况进行问卷调查。 [结果 ]在接受调查的 75 8名护理人员中 ,有 45 7人曾遭受暴力 ,暴力的发生率60 .3 % ;遭受暴力的类型以语言暴力为主 ;初级职称、40岁以下、工龄小于 5年的护理人员更容易遭受暴力威胁 (P <0 .0 5 ) ;没有满足病人或病人家属的无理要求是发生暴力的主要原因。 [结论 ]护理人员遭受医院场所暴力的发生率高 ,必须采取有效地防范措施 ,以保护护理人员的人身安全。     

Clinical competence in developmental‐behavioural paediatrics: Raising the bar

For our specialist paediatric workforce to be suitably equipped to deal with current childhood morbidity, a high level of competence in developmental‐behavioural paediatrics (DBP) is necessary. New models of training and assessment are required to meet this challenge. An evolution of training in DBP, built around the centrepiece of competency‐based medical education, is proposed. Summative assessment based upon entrustable professional activities, and a menu of formative workplace‐based assessments specific to the DBP context are key components. A pilot project to develop and implement these changes is recommended.     

空气中高浓度二氯乙烷对蚕豆根尖细胞遗传毒性研究

目的探讨将蚕豆根尖微核检测系统(micronucleus,MCN)应用于空气污染物致突变性检测的可行性。方法以市售蚕豆为材料,在密闭容器中模拟室内空气的高浓度二氯乙烷污染,对蚕豆进行染毒。结果随着浓度的递增,平均微核率、染色体畸变率逐步上升,有丝分裂指数有下降趋势,表现出明显的剂量效应关系。结论在实验浓度下,1,2-二氯乙烷有对蚕豆根尖细胞产生遗传毒害效应。应用蚕豆根尖微核技术检测室内高浓度1,2-二氯乙烷污染物是可行的。     

Effects of workplace measures against COVID-19 on psychological distress of full-time employees: A 12-month prospective study in the COVID-19 pandemic

ObjectiveThis study aimed to investigate the prospective effects of corporate and organizational workplace measures against COVID-19 on reducing employees’ psychological distress during a 12-month follow-up in the COVID-19 pandemic.MethodsData were retrieved from an online longitudinal panel survey of full-time employees in Japan, with the 1^st survey in March 2020, and the 2^nd to 6^th surveys in May, August, November 2020, February and March 2021, respectively. Seven area-specific workplace measures were assessed using a self-report 23-item scale at the 2^nd follow-up. Psychological distress was measured using an 18-item scale of the Brief Job Stress Questionnaire at each survey. Linear regressions and mixed model analysis were conducted of psychological distress at follow-ups on scores of the area-specific workplace measures, adjusting for psychological distress and other covariates at the 1^st survey.ResultsA total of 941 employees responded at baseline; most of them (86.9–90.9%) participated in the follow-up surveys. Linear regression analysis indicated that workplace measures of facilitating employees’ preventive measures (ie, hygiene behaviors) statistically significantly and negatively correlated with psychological distress at the 5^th survey [b=-0.518, standard error (SE) 0.259, P=0.046]. A statistically significant and negative interaction between the scores and time of follow-up was observed in the mixed model analysis (b=-0.096, SE 0.047, P=0.041). No such correlation or interaction was found for any of other subcategorical workplace measures.ConclusionsThe study provides prospective evidence for a protective effect of workplace measures to facilitate employee’s hygiene behaviors on reducing psychological distress of full-time employees in the COVID-19 pandemic. The association seems stronger at a later follow-up.     

工作场所空气中乙醇的测定方法研究

目的探索采用溶剂解析气相色谱法测定工作场所空气中的乙醇。方法工作场所空气中的乙醇采用硅胶管采样,用蒸馏水解析后进样,经4mm×2mGDX-103不锈钢填充柱分离,用FDI检测器,以保留时间定性,以峰面积定量,按照《工作场所空气中毒物检验方法的研究规范》的要求进行实验室及现场实验,测定职业场所空气中乙醇。结果职业场所空气中的乙醇浓度的方法的线性范围为13.0～6182.0μg/ml,方法的不同浓度的相对标准偏差为1.2%～4.4%。线性回归良好,相关系数r=0.9999,可以准确定量。硅胶管的解析率为93.08%～106.08%。结论该方法重现性好,检出限低,样品中共存的甲醇、正丁醇、异戊醇不干扰测定,与共存物分离良好。在实际工作中获得良好的应用。     

Work attendance despite headache and its economic impact: a comparison between two workplaces

OBJECTIVE: To study work attendance despite headache in 2 different workplaces and its economic impact. BACKGROUND: Literature on the economic impact of headache traditionally has focused on direct costs. Little is known concerning headache experienced at work and its costs due to loss of effectiveness and productivity. METHOD: We sent a questionnaire to 800 employees in Sweden--400 at a technology company (private employee population) and 400 at a university hospital (public employee population). We attempted to assess the prevalence of headache, work attendance despite the presence of acute headache, and the impact of acute headache upon work effectiveness. Subjects self-scored decreased work effectiveness resulting from headache during the previous 3 months and recorded the number of days at work despite headache. From these data, we estimated the economic loss resulting from headache. RESULTS: The survey response rate was 71.5%. The prevalence of headache was 64% in the private employee population and 78% in the public employee population. Thirty-nine percent of the private employees and 57% of the public employees reported experiencing headache as a result of stress. Fifty percent reported that they went to work despite headache, and the mean number of days at work despite headache, during the previous 3 months, was 6.6 days in the private employee group and 6.1 days in the public employee group. A 25% decrease in work effectiveness was estimated, and, extrapolating from our data, we calculated the cost of lost effectiveness due to headache among employers in Sweden to be approximately 1.4 billion euros a year. CONCLUSION: The economic burden of headache experienced at work is substantial, suggesting that workplace-based treatment and prevention programs emphasizing stress management may be financially, as well as clinically, advantageous.     

How can the rehabilitation planning process at the workplace be improved? A qualitative study from employers' perspective

Employers in Sweden are by law responsible for planning and controlling the working environment situation in their companies and for ensuring that any need for rehabilitation is noted as soon as possible and that action is taken. This includes developing a plan for rehabilitation. The aim of this study is to describe employers' experiences of the work rehabilitation planning process at the workplace, and how it can be improved with a focus on quality and cost-effectiveness. Qualitative interviews were performed with 10 employers of employee/s that had participated in vocational rehabilitation at a rehabilitation center in the North of Sweden. The results showed that employers were interested in detecting work rehabilitation needs and in taking action early. Rehabilitation at the workplace could be improved by development of routines, improved work relations and work technique, and environment in-service training at the workplace. Prevention was perceived as a prerequisite for a good result of rehabilitation. Attention to social and geographic conditions is needed. Organizational and financial limitations exist.