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elleng

(130,126 posts)
Fri Apr 21, 2017, 01:18 PM Apr 2017

Take Your Baby to Work.

'My daughter, Uma, is my third child. When her brothers were born, I was working at a large bank and opted for its 13-week paid leave. I was grateful to be home for their first gummy smiles but missed the problem-solving and camaraderie of work. The first time, I tried keeping up with some projects from home but found remote work isolating. The second time, my email access was blocked, so I was cut off entirely.

With Uma, I wanted a different experience. I had recently been appointed chief executive of a college admissions software company; although the company does offer paid leave, I decided to return to the office when Uma was 6 weeks old. But on her 1-month birthday, she still seemed so small and vulnerable.

I wondered: Why couldn’t I bring Uma along with me to the office? I was already wearing her in a hands-free sling. She slept more than 15 hours per day, and I knew that, despite my best efforts, much of that sleep would continue to be during the day rather than at night.

“Does that sound insane?” I asked my husband. I didn’t want my daughter to create an unwelcome distraction and could imagine my colleagues’ looks of terror and disbelief.

“Well, you’ll only know if it’s crazy once you try,” my husband said. . .

I learned that there’s a movement underway, led by the Parenting in the Workplace Institute, to encourage more parents to take their babies to work. Over the past decade, the group has recorded more than 2,100 babies being brought to more than 200 American organizations, including consulting, law and accounting firms, retail stores, dance studios and government agencies. . .

The concept of babies at work may never take hold in a broad way. But more workers, and their bosses, should consider it. Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day is next Thursday; I hope some new parents will take it as an opening to talk about bringing along their babies.'

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/20/opinion/sunday/take-your-baby-to-work.html?

7 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Take Your Baby to Work. (Original Post) elleng Apr 2017 OP
I wouldn't want to work in an environment where there are babies & children around. CrispyQ Apr 2017 #1
I think that would be completely dependent on the work environment Phoenix61 Apr 2017 #2
Quite right, completely dependent on the work environment (and the baby.) elleng Apr 2017 #4
Bad idea. smirkymonkey Apr 2017 #3
Message auto-removed Name removed Oct 2017 #5
If the baby really, really NEVER cries PoindexterOglethorpe Oct 2017 #6
) codysartony Jan 2019 #7

CrispyQ

(36,221 posts)
1. I wouldn't want to work in an environment where there are babies & children around.
Fri Apr 21, 2017, 01:33 PM
Apr 2017

One day a year is one thing, but everyday? No way. However, I do think corporations should do more to help employees with child care. On site child care, maybe? Or business that are grouped together in a business park - why don't they all contribute to a child care center in the park? As someone with no children, often times I was the one required to stay late to finish a proposal because my colleagues had to pick up their children by six or be penalized. If Saturday hours were required, they asked me first, because "you have no family," as one executive put it. Because if you don't have children, you're perfectly happy spending your evenings & weekends at work.

Phoenix61

(16,949 posts)
2. I think that would be completely dependent on the work environment
Fri Apr 21, 2017, 02:26 PM
Apr 2017

And the baby, too. But I can see situations where it would work out quite well. Plus, babies are cute and cuddly.

elleng

(130,126 posts)
4. Quite right, completely dependent on the work environment (and the baby.)
Fri Apr 21, 2017, 03:48 PM
Apr 2017

What's wrong, imo, is a flat condemnation.

 

smirkymonkey

(63,221 posts)
3. Bad idea.
Fri Apr 21, 2017, 03:21 PM
Apr 2017

Not only is it not possible for all but the very privileged, but it is a selfish thing to inflict on co-workers. I am all for having on-site daycare, longer paid maternity and paternity leave and other options that make it easier on a working parent, but this is not the solution for a number of reasons.

Babies just don't belong in the workplace, period.

Response to elleng (Original post)

PoindexterOglethorpe

(25,746 posts)
6. If the baby really, really NEVER cries
Fri Oct 27, 2017, 12:32 PM
Oct 2017

then maybe. But she will still be a distraction to co-workers and clients/customers who are there.

The lack of parental leave and workplace flexibility is truly criminal, but taking an infant to the workplace isn't the solution. At one month she may well be sleeping most of the daylight hours, but that will change over time. And how about when she starts moving on her own, crawling, then walking? How are you going to work then?

 

codysartony

(12 posts)
7. )
Mon Jan 28, 2019, 06:57 AM
Jan 2019

if the company has a children's room, then yes, you can take the child with you, but you should not. children require a lot of attention, and the authorities may not like that you are distracted

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