As part of the company’s move to support working parents, IBM has announced an innovative delivery service for nursing mothers in its employ. The service is to provide a concierge-style service for nursing IBM employees to help them ensure adequate milk supply for the baby’s consumption for the day.
Upon request, a representative will hand over the cooler and icepacks to the mother in the IBM office. She will be provided with the name of the staff assigned who will deliver the breast milk to her residence. The milk is expected to be delivered to the designated location within two to four hours from the time the sealed thermal bag is received.
The thermal bag is made of similar technology that is used in transporting perishable materials and can maintain the temperature of hot or cold items. The packaging can be used to keep the milk fresh and even has antimicrobial properties built into the lining to resist odor, mold, and mildew.
IBM covers the cost.
“We are excited to pilot this program in the Philippines to support nursing mothers and allow them to respond their responsibilities at home and at work,” said Divya Sharma, Philippines HR area leader, IBM Philippines. “Through the launch of this service for IBMers in Metro Manila, we aim to gather substantial data and feedback in preparation of expanding the program in other Philippine cities where IBM has presence.”
“It is with great pride that we are pioneering this program in the Philippines and the Asia Pacific region to support working mothers,” said Luis Pineda, president and country general manager, IBM Philippines. “We are glad to bring another form of innovation to our employees – the IBMers – because they are the ones who bring success to this great company.”
At this stage, the program is available to Metro Manila employees to collect data and feedback on the program in preparation of rolling out the service to other IBM sites in the Philippines.
IBM claims to have a holistic view of supporting working parents, dating back to 1956, when the company introduced paid family leave of absence. In the 1980s IBM introduced flexible work options and also launched the first national corporate childcare initiative in the US.
