The Responsibility Project^®. Exploring what it means to do the right thing

All Work, No Playpen

24 Comments

June 3, 2008 by Kathy McManus

There’s no question where babies come from. But there are plenty of questions about where they belong.

In a bar?
With a nanny?
Starting a new life with someone else?

Your recent comments here on other posts show there’s lots of spirited debate about responsibility when it comes to how and where we care for our kids.

So, do babies belong at the office every day?

Yes, say employers at more than 80 companies across the U.S., where parents are allowed and encouraged to bring their babies to work on a daily basis--keeping, feeding, and caring for them right at their desks.

Bosses who back the controversial new trend say it helps them retain vital employees who might otherwise not return after the birth of a baby.

After four employees at an Austin advertising firm got pregnant at the same time, the company’s president feared they wouldn’t come back. So she turned the workplace into nirvana for new parents. Baby mamas—and daddies--are offered private offices in which to work while tending fulltime to their infants, who are welcome to clock in every day until about nine months, when they usually start crawling. Babies regularly attend meetings and are frequently fed on the conference table.

The company says having babies on board is good for morale.

Not so for everyone, critics counter. They say babies at the office bring increased distraction and decreased productivity for both co-workers and parents, who can’t possibly focus fully on the job. And those without children, a job recruiter notes, “often come to resent the perception of coddled working parents.”

Tell us what you think: They say it takes a village to raise a child, but should it take an office, too? Do babies and work make a responsible mix?

24 Comments

What do you think? Leave a comment

• June 6, 2008 by IleneCollins

  In a society where there are increasing numbers of single-parent families and families that need the income of both parents to survive, this issue deserves to be re-considered. If a parent decides that bringing a baby to work is better for the family than another option (such as costly childcare provided by an absolute stranger) and the boss is pro-baby, then try it. I think that the main consideration is the comfort and security of the baby. In some situations the parent may have to put in extra time at the job to be equitable to other employees, which I'm sure that most of these parents would be willing to do.

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• June 13, 2008 by Margarita Morales

  This is something that more employers should consider. I know so many moms who were brilliant at their office jobs but decided to stay home when they had a baby. This caused conflict at home because their income was eliminated and the full financial burden fell on their husband's shoulders.

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• June 17, 2008 by Marney Cullen

  I was fortunate enough twice to work for a law firm that allowed me to bring my babies to work with me within a week after birth. Given that daycares won't take children under 6 weeks of age, I was a nursing mother and sole support for my family, it was a win/win for both my employer and me. My work output and quality did not decrease; my child was happy; and, I had peace of mind. In one instance, my child went into a daycare in the building and in the other; she stayed with me until 6 months of age before going to a daycare close by. Because my employer was willing to understand my family's needs and work with me, I was far more willing to go the extra mile for them. Due to different perspectives, lifestyles and priority choices, there will always be the people who choose to remain single and/or childless that finds any accommodations for a work/life balance on the part of the employer to those that have children to be inappropriate.

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• June 18, 2008 by Dennis Buskirk

  This can be one of the greatest things to ever have happen with children bonding with mom and dad at work, even if it does slow things down sometimes. Then again, it could be a bad thing. In today’s world we have people that for some unknown reason some times lose their mind and they go off on the people around them. In my earlier years, it would have been something else with my dad working on the railroad and my mother working different places that I can remember like it was just yesterday. If you do take the little trolls along with you for the day, just remember one thing: a baby has a one track mind!!! Let's make mom or dad's day a day to remember.

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• August 7, 2008 by Dylan Croft

  I am sorry that there are so few options for parents, but I do not think babies belong in the office. I do think that companies should provide affordable daycare for their employees.

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• August 15, 2008 by Bea Jones

  It takes a responsible parent to raise a child - not a village, and not a workplace. Sure, it's great being able to have your baby at your desk, but it DOES cause problems with other workers, who don't get to have the same 'quality' time on the job, who may not have children at all or whose children may be older and in school, who don't get to sit with Mommy all day. Since when is having children a sanctified state of existence, making mommy better than the other working stiffs who have to put up with the noise and distractions all day? If a parent chooses to have a child, they should also plan how to raise that child if they should continue to work. It is not the employer's fault that an employee gets pregnant, why is it his or her fault that the parent didn’t plan for the continuing care for that child? "Not a distraction"? Of course it is a distraction; a child must be changed, fed, and taken care of, must have attention - they are not windup toys or games of Solitaire that can be ignored when the phone rings. Who takes up the slack for Mommy while she is doing this? Guess... And how do you think customers feel about the professionalism of an office that has a baby - or babies - in it? Do you think that they really believe that a daycare thrust into their faces when they come there to do business is desirable, and leaves a good impression? Do you think they mightn't wonder why their last phone call went to voicemail instead of being answered by the third ring? If you can't take care of your child without bringing it to your place of work, stay at or work from home. YOU are responsible for your child - not your co-workers, not your boss, not your customers. I raised three, working full time; all went to college and all are professional working adults. And NONE went to work with me at ANY time, unless Daddy dropped by for lunch and brought them. To expect others to take responsibility for your choice to have a child is irresponsible.

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  • August 15, 2008 by Margarita Morales

    It's wonderful that "daddy" was around to pitch in with your kids, but that's not always the case with everyone. Sometimes RESPONSIBLE MOTHERS have to pick up the slack when IRRESPONSIBLE FATHERS walk out on them and their children. The workplace is not the ideal place for a child, but if mom HAS to work and doesn't have the resources or the trusted individuals to care for her child so that she can do the responsible thing and go to work, then the workplace IS the best place for that child. Otherwise, the responsible mother will have to act irresponsibly and go on welfare in order to put food on the table. Notice I didn't say keep a roof over their heads because welfare doesn't provide enough money for that -- ergo, responsible mom MUST go to work.

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  • August 17, 2008 by deidre davis

    I do agree that babies should not be in the workplace. I’m reading and it seems that people who do this work for law firms and corporations where they make enough money to afford childcare. If you can’t afford it - stay home and take care of the child. Maybe the company should let you work from home. I for one do not want to sit in an office meeting watching Suzi breast feed her child, or listening to it burp, pass gas, make cooing noises during a presentation all because she can’t afford a babysitter. She decided to have the child and she didn’t ask me what I thought then so now to thrust that on me in the middle of my work is not fair. Parenting is a responsibility for the PARENTS only not the parents and coworkers. I chose not to have children. A decision I don’t regret. I didn’t say that I wanted to raise someone else’s either and in time Suzi would be asking "can you hold little Johnny for just a second while I get that fax, or answer that phone?" She would be highly insulted because my answer would be “no, it’s your kid”.

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    • August 17, 2008 by Margarita Morales

      I'm glad you didn't have children because the time would have come when you would have needed someone to hold the little one while you did this or the other.

• August 15, 2008 by City Chick

  If companies would give proper paid time off to new parents, having a baby at work would not be a problem. Six weeks maternity leave should be a no brainer.

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• August 20, 2008 by Bea Jones

  My ex DID walk out on me and my two boys. I paid for a babysitter, and even a live-in nanny, at one point, when I was in school and working. I paid for it, because I was responsible - me, not my boss, not my co-workers. When my 2nd hubby and I were married, he took the responsibility of a father for not only my two - whom he adopted - but his daughter, too. Pleading that a single parent has the right to infuse his or her children into the workplace because one parent won't take the responsibility is simply excusing and encouraging irresponsible behavior. Having children is a choice - and the responsibilities that go with that choice are not transferred to the workplace (or fellow employees) just because a parent doesn't want to take responsibility for that choice, dies, or another life occurrence happens. Life happens - and it is a parent's responsibility to ensure that the children are not damaged by it, as well as that others are not forced by changing mores, morals or laws to take that responsibility.

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  • August 20, 2008 by Margarita Morales

    1: Having children is a blessing. 2: How can you say that a single parent trying to do what she/he can do in order to provide for her/his family WITHOUT becoming a burden to the state, is excusing and encouraging irresponsible behavior? You must be financially comfortable in order to NOT see the few choices given a single parent of low or moderate income. 3: This discussion started because AN EMPLOYER chose to NOT lose a valued employee by allowing her to bring her INFANT to the office. He provided an office for her so that the other employees were not distracted or disrupted when she had to feed, change or quiet her baby. 4: I agree with you that it IS a parent's responsibility to ensure their children are not damaged by the consequences of someone else's choices. Hence, if a parent cannot afford to pay for a safe, caring child care service, the next best thing is to take the child with her/him to work. I rest my case.

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• August 21, 2008 by Bea Jones

  No I was NOT financially comfortable; I was broke most of the time - but the care of my children was MY responsibility. I well know what it is like to try to decide whether to pay the heating bill or to buy food, especially when I was single. Responsibility is not dependent on income! An employer that provides a specific working environment for a single employee and not for the others not only runs the risk of losing other employees (there is no cubicle that prevents a screaming child's voice from being heard) or even a lawsuit from another employee who can't get the same considerations. "Hey, boss, I'd have much better productivity if you would let me work 4 ten-hour days" - "I could do so much better if you'd let me work from home" "I have NO children and don't plan on having any; why can't I have six weeks vacation instead of maternity leave?" Having children is a choice, and it is not the responsibility of the employer, co-workers, or anyone else to be responsible in any way for that choice.

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• August 21, 2008 by Marney Cullen

  It's been interesting to see just what kind of vehement emotional responses were created by my answer to the questions posed on this blog. I simply stated what had been my experience, and my fortune in having done so. Making accommodations for my newborn children was not something I expected either of my employers to do (it was two different law firms on two different occasions), and something that both offered to do based on decisions made by the partners in private discussion and then presented to me. And no, to respond to several speculations, there was NO instance in which I pawned my child off on someone else while I made copies, etc. There were times, however, where the attorney to whom I was assigned or someone else ASKED to hold my child. My children were carried in a baby sling that allowed them to feel me constantly, nurse in privacy, and sleep in comfort. Consequently, they very rarely fussed, and never created a problem in the work environment - which, by the way, included a courtroom. Considering my work week averaged between 50 and 60 hours a week, it was something that worked amazingly well for all of us, and a decade later, I'm still grateful that those employers valued me enough to find a creative, workable solution for us both. There are currently large corporations that permit their workers to bring pets to work, even in an environment where co-workers deal with allergies. In this day of diversity in flex time, 4-day weeks with 10-hour days, etc., it seems that any number of accommodations can be made in a manner that's positive for all if the employer is willing to be creative. Unfortunately, there are those co-workers who want the employer to be accommodating for them, but have little willingness to do the same for another colleague in return, and those are usually the first to criticize the loudest.

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  • August 21, 2008 by Margarita Morales

    Thank you for sharing your experience. You were indeed blessed that your employer allowed you to do this.

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• August 25, 2008 by Raymond Kelly McElhiney II

  This might not be a good idea for some companies due to safety. I see that is not a good policy at a machine shop. Why not at an office type atmosphere or small tech business?. I think the boss or owner should be commended on thinking out of the box. That idea may keep good knowledgeable people and in turn save them money on daycare. Some big companies and federal employees have use of in house daycare. The fact is those companies let fathers do it too is just awesome! That gives mommy a break and both keep their jobs. For some reason, I think the work might be a little better too as the parents brain is moving faster at work. Don't get caught sleeping. Thanks.

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• September 2, 2008 by animal_lover

  My dentist’s children I have seen in another room when I have a late night appointment. My dermatologist, however, chose to have her son in the examining room, even talking to him at my appointment. It doesn't matter how simply the procedure was; this was my appointment not her son’s day care and I have never gone back.

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