Scaling Support for Breastfeeding Employees: Why Pharma & Biotech Companies Need More Than Reimbursement

As a Chief People Officer in a pharma or biotech company, you know that attracting and retaining top talent—especially women in STEM—requires meaningful benefits that support employees at every stage of their careers. Your company already reimburses employees for breast milk shipping, demonstrating a commitment to working parents. But is your current approach truly effective?

Manual reimbursement is a temporary fix, not a scalable solution. The inefficiencies of this process create unnecessary friction for both employees and HR teams—leading to underutilization, frustration, and an inconsistent experience.

Take this working mom's experience at a company that reimbursed for Milk Stork, that she shared on LinkedIn:

Why Manual Reimbursement Falls Short in Pharma & Biotech

For breastfeeding employees, shipping breast milk while traveling isn’t just a logistical challenge—it’s a deeply personal and often stressful necessity. The current reimbursement model presents multiple barriers:

• Delayed Reimbursements & Financial Burden
  Employees must cover costs upfront, submit receipts, and wait weeks for reimbursement—placing an unnecessary financial strain on working parents.

• Awkward & Inconsistent Approvals
  Navigating manager approval or policy awareness can feel uncomfortable and inconsistent across teams, discouraging employees from even using the benefit.

• Operational Inefficiencies for HR
  Processing one-off reimbursement requests drains HR’s time and resources. Without a centralized system, tracking utilization, ensuring fairness, and demonstrating impact becomes a challenge.

• Lack of Data for Strategic Decision-Making
  Expense reports often categorize breast milk shipping under generic “shipping” or “travel” line items, leaving you with no clear visibility into usage trends, costs, or employee engagement.

Take Control with Milk Stork’s Direct Employee Ordering Portal

Your company is already investing in this benefit—why not make it seamless, equitable, and data-driven? By transitioning from reimbursement to a structured, company-sponsored Milk Stork program, you gain:

1. Predictable Budgeting & Controlled Costs
Customize the program to align with your company’s policies, ensuring spending is consistent and within budget.

2. Real-Time Utilization Insights
Gain immediate access to usage reports to track trends, forecast costs, and measure impact—empowering you with data-driven decision-making.

3. A Hassle-Free Experience for Employees
Instead of paying out-of-pocket and waiting for reimbursement, employees can order breast milk shipping services directly through a streamlined portal—removing financial and emotional barriers.

4. Enhanced Talent Retention & Inclusion
By formalizing this benefit, you send a clear message that your company supports working parents, reinforcing your commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Enable More Business Travel with Milk Stork

Pharma and biotech companies rely on travel for client meetings, clinical trials, conferences, and offsite trainings. However, many new parents hesitate to travel due to the challenges of maintaining their breastfeeding journey on the road.

With Milk Stork, breastfeeding employees are 91% more likely to say yes to work travel—empowering them to continue driving business impact while staying committed to their families. A seamless, employer-sponsored milk shipping solution removes a key barrier to participation, ensuring that top talent remains engaged in critical business opportunities.

Beyond Compliance: Building a Culture of Support in Life Sciences

As an industry leader in innovation and scientific advancement, your company understands the value of supporting families. Moving beyond manual reimbursement isn’t just about operational efficiency—it’s about creating a culture where employees feel truly valued.

By eliminating the burdens of reimbursement and offering a frictionless, company-sponsored solution, you ensure that every breastfeeding employee has access to the support they need—without unnecessary stress.

Make the Shift Today

Your company has already taken the first step in supporting traveling parents. Now, let’s make it easier, more impactful, and fully integrated. Ready to take the next step? Connect with us to streamline your breast milk shipping benefit today.