A binky on the boardroom table? Teddies on a teleconference? Gurgles and coos and a faint smell of baby powder floating from a cubicle? Though still rare and often controversial, some employers are welcoming “parenting in the workplace” on a continual or as needed basis in an effort to speed the return of and retain talented employees with newborns. More than 80 companies nationwide are allowing their employees to bring their baby to work.
Most commonly applied to six-month-olds and under, parents participating are allowed to bring their little one with them to work, provided they are getting their work done and not disrupting the workplace. Both can be difficult to manage, whether it be due to a screaming tot or the flood of other employees stopping by to snuggle the youngest of interns. The six-months-and-under rule is aimed at addressing the period from birth, when daycare costs are highest and many mothers are nursing, to when the baby becomes mobile, and thus harder to entertain in a small space.
Absenteeism in new parents tends to decrease amongst employees participating in such a program as many parents have to take the day off work when their nanny or daycare provider falls through. Many parents offered the option to bring their newborn to work return from leave much more quickly, balancing their desire to return to work with the reluctance to be apart from their baby. A “bring your baby to work” policy also decreases the chance that an employee will opt not to return to work on the heels of their parental leave, as the transition can be eased considerably by bringing the baby to work.
A major consideration is the workplace itself, its suitability and safety for babies. Offices better lend themselves to baby care and privacy than cubicles. The nature of the work performed by the parent and their office neighbors is another factor. Heavy in-person or phone customer service can become difficult when juggling a wailing five month old.
When it works, employers find they see increased loyalty from their staff; parents and non-parents alike who appreciate the efforts their company makes to assist in the balance of work and home life.
