Take Your Baby to Work Day?
Judi Casey October 8th, 2008
Organizations that allow, and even encourage, working moms and dads to bring their babies to work are growing across the country. According to the Parenting in the Workplace Institute, “more than 100 organizations have successfully allowed babies in the workplace.” Typically, parents bring their babies to work until they are six to eight months old, or until they crawl.
Although many workers and managers in organizations are skeptical that this is a feasible arrangement, Carla Moquin reports that doubters often come around when they see the success of these programs. She provides numerous examples of this turnaround in her book, Babies@Work. She also notes that babies tend to be happier and more content, as they receive quick, responsive attention from their parent who does not want to disturb their co-workers or clients. A 2005 article based on the research of Mary Secret from Virginia Commonwealth University indicates that organizations were very positive about this arrangement.
This is a no or very low cost arrangement with benefits for employees, their babies, and employers. Employees may be able to return to work sooner, have lower child care costs, and may feel more loyal and committed to their employer due to this opportunity. Employers retain valued employees, and create a positive work culture with improved morale (babies are nice to have around).
For other articles about this topic, please go to the US News & World Report and the Christian Science Monitor. The blog “Working With Kids” has also written about this topic.
Does your workplace allow new parents to bring their babies to work? Would you be supportive of babies at the workplace?
We are in the UK, and our workplace fully supports the concept. We had reservations initially, but have found that there are numerous benefits for our business as well as the mothers.
Thank you for letting us know that bringing babies to work has been successful at your organization in the UK. I would be interested in hearing how your workplace moved from their reservations to support for this idea. It seems that one of the sticking points is the idea that it will be too disruptive to everyone, but it doesn’t seem that is the case. We’d love to hear more!
Taking you baby to work with you is a bit to much. And the Statement that over 100 companies allow that…its just a play of words. Over 100 companies, means that almoust anyone allows that. Its like saying that over 100 people voted for Arnold out of 1.000.000. So that means that nobody has voted.
The Best things is to not mix things, like work and baby. Childcare its hard work as it is, we have so many babies that don`t get enough attention as it is, with a full time mom.
People are not meant to raise a baby and work in the same time. Just try to keep your baby happy and don`t worry about anything else, a proper diet, baby vitamins and so on.
With all the financial pressures on families these days, it doesn’t surprise me that more organizations are now allowing this, especially since so many are tightening their payrolls. Thanks for this
If parents can manage to work from home with their little ones then I can’t see why this wouldn’t work either providing it didn’t disrupt others. There definately needs to be a better balance between work/family to keep skilled mothers in the workforce, any little step in the right direction should be embraced.
Hi Lisa,
I agree that it is critical to develop strategies to keep skilled mothers in the workplace. But it’s important to acknowledge that employees who work at home still need to find childcare. Of course there may be an emergency such as a snow day or illness, but most employees find that it is unrealistic to combine work with childcare.