Why Replacing Employees Costs Far More Than Supporting Them – A Business Case for Breastfeeding-Friendly Workplaces

Employee engagement, retention and wellbeing aren’t just buzzwords, they’re bottom-line issues. And for organisations aiming to retain talented working mothers returning from maternity leave, one area is repeatedly overlooked: support for breastfeeding in the workplace.

A new initiative from Families and Babies (F.A.B) offers employers a proactive solution. The FAB Certified Breastfeeding Friendly Employers Package provides HR teams with structured training to ensure returning mothers are supported from the moment they disclose their pregnancy, through their entire breastfeeding journey.

But why should this matter to business leaders?

Because the cost of replacing a skilled employee can be staggering.

The True Cost of Losing a Returning Mother

According to data compiled from CIPD, Oxford Economics and SHRM, the average cost of replacing an employee earning £35,000 is between £52,500 and £70,000. That includes recruitment, onboarding, lost productivity, management time, and the less tangible, but equally damaging, impacts on culture and team morale.

For senior-level employees, these costs soar even higher. Replacing a manager earning £70,000 can exceed £150,000, especially when factoring in executive search fees, lost leadership continuity, and knowledge loss.

When employees feel unsupported during and after maternity leave, especially when trying to continue breastfeeding, they’re more likely to disengage or leave. With 80% of mothers in the UK stopping breastfeeding earlier than they intend, and many citing work as a factor, the message is clear: employers are missing opportunities to retain valued team members by not addressing this gap.

A Solution That Supports People and Performance

The FAB Certification programme equips HR professionals with the knowledge and tools to implement inclusive breastfeeding policies, train line managers, conduct facilities audits, and meet legal obligations — all while contributing to an organisation’s diversity, wellbeing, and CSR goals.

And in the wake of costly tribunal rulings — such as the £90,000 settlement awarded to a Cardiff NHS worker for lack of expressing facilities, and EasyJet’s tribunal loss for inflexible breastfeeding scheduling — the legal risk of doing nothing has never been higher.

Invest in Retention, Reap the Rewards

Rather than risking £70,000 in replacement costs, investing in a proactive training programme that supports retention and reduces risk makes both social and financial sense.

As Elaine Edwards, Chair of Trustees at F.A.B, puts it:

“We’ve seen the devastating effects when breastfeeding mothers aren’t supported at work. Our course is designed to help employers do better — not just for compliance, but for culture, retention and reputation.”

The first cohort of the FAB Certified Breastfeeding Friendly Employers Package launches in July 2025, with limited Founding Partner slots available at a discounted rate.

To learn more, request an information pack or visit:
http://www.familiesandbabies.org.uk/employers