Babies in the Office Space
How many of you remember my post about bringing your baby to work? Well it seems more and more mothers are deciding to trade in their computers for the aprons with the growing economy and prices of gas sky rocketing. Why not? When you have to pay someone to watch your child and pay to fill your car up just to go to work. Later you turn around after a nine hour work day, fill up the tank yet again, pick up your child and head for home. You are spot cleaning the house, making a meal and will be able to relax once baby is down, but you want to spend time with your baby. So it isn’t a wonder that more businesses are trying to figure out how to change this new trend.
Guess what?
Now offices are putting in their own day care centers and even giving mom the option to have her child with her in the office. Provided she is the one that cares for him or her, not the next cubicle. They know that not even mom can completely control the baby’s schedule and are working around her…as long as she gets the work done. Currently over 20 different types of companies are doing this, that’s over 100 companies providing “Baby-at-Work programs” if you find yourself wanting to spend more time with your baby maybe you should find out if your company does this and if not will they. Keep in mind it never hurts to ask.
Is this crazy? You know at first I thought it was, but the more I think about it I can get it. Heck, what do I do all day long at home? I’m the mother of four children and yes I work from all parts of my house. Granted I keep the computer out of the bathroom, even though that is probably the quietest place yet. I work while nursing, cooking, cleaning and keeping kids from tearing each other to shreds. So why can’t a “working mom” do this? Every mom can, it just took someone to realize that a mom can actually bring her child into work and the world would not have a melt down. I applaud those companies wanting to make life a little simpler for mom.
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POSTED IN: Baby Care
3 opinions for Babies in the Office Space
Mike
Jul 25, 2008 at 1:20 pm
That’s pretty cool. I’m definitely for allowing all kinds of crazy alternative schedules/environments as long as everybody can get their job done.
My only question is is this really a “mom” thing or a “parents of babies” thing? Could the SAHD’s, or even current work at the office dad’s bring the baby with them instead? Or maybe alternate by day or week between parents?
Eliza
Jul 25, 2008 at 1:55 pm
love the question but the article didn’t mention that at all. I think to businesses this is still a new thing (guys as the caregiver) not to me though, I’ve seen both ways, guys staying home and gals staying home. I applaud all and know it can be done. :)
Carla Moquin
Jul 26, 2008 at 12:35 pm
I run the Parenting in the Workplace Institute (we focus on babies-at-work programs). There are actually quite a few fathers who have brought their babies to work (and in some cases more than one of their children). It works just as well as for moms and brings many of the same benefits for the businesses. By the way, we offer a free, downloadable (and customizable) template baby policy that people can use in proposing that their company start a program:
http://www.babiesatwork.org/babiesatworkbook.html
(Downloadable policy and fact sheet are on the right side.)
Carla Moquin
carla @ babiesatwork.org
(801) 897-8702
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