Sounds like member of Parliament Licia Ronzulli feels entitled to inconvenience everyone around her. This would be completely unworkable in 99% of jobs.
5
It awesome to read this, and I did it too. Pumping is a special kind of torture for most working mothers. By keeping an infant with you, you can breastfeed on demand and get that special bonding time in. It's true that it's not for every profession but, in response to previous comments, I don't see why a bank teller could not have a baby in the sling. It definitely doesn't work as the baby gets older, but it's a great alternative to pumping, quitting, or guilt for those with woeful maternity leave policies. Entrenched thinking about workplace need to be re-thought and updated for changed workplace demographics. Until sensible policies are the norm, three cheers for working mom hacks.
5
I am so glad to read about such a practice is in action. I would have liked for it to have been an option for me. I hope it is available to more parents in the future.
Incidentally, I imagine that if more parents took their infants to work, some co-workers might get a good dose of baby time while they observe what is involved in caring for a baby and so choose not to have children of their own. Perhaps that, too, would improve workplace productivity? I hope I can make that argument and also argue that bringing babies into a workplace is good for the parent's productivity, which it is.
Incidentally, I imagine that if more parents took their infants to work, some co-workers might get a good dose of baby time while they observe what is involved in caring for a baby and so choose not to have children of their own. Perhaps that, too, would improve workplace productivity? I hope I can make that argument and also argue that bringing babies into a workplace is good for the parent's productivity, which it is.
The last sentence is good. I was giggling after reading that. Really children are awesome if we take it positively.
3
Oh please don't. And if you insist, don't expect everyone to fawn over you. Many people actually show up to work and are not interested in your amniocentesis, your in utero photos, a play by play of your pregnancy, and now a smelly, squalling infant. They may have been polite, but now are about to scream.
5
Some women have jobs, by the way, where actual and important work gets done. Not all women are secretaries and paper pushers. Let's not forget the female surgeons, nurses, emergency physicians, and paramedics for whom this is never an option.
20
Ronzulli is a member of the European Parliament. That puzzles me. I love children, but find it impossible to do any consistent thinking around them.
4
I am not even an emergency physician or a surgeon and I can't imagine how I would be able to do this. When I am in an exam room or hospital room with a patient, my entire focus is on them (as it should be), and I am only to be interrupted by nurses for emergencies (either with my patients in the hospital or, once or twice, with my own children). I don't think patients would appreciate my attention being divided between them and my own child. Plus, I can't even imagine bringing a young baby to the hospital daily to do rounds before their immune systems are mature- they would be much safer eleswhere- actually pretty much ANYWHERE else but my workplace.
2
I hope that you don't have a secretary or any other 'paper pusher' who supports your 'actual and important work' or if you do that he/she doesn't know what you think of the work they do. How insulting.
7
If you site research as a basis for a trend, there should be a link or some reference. Barring that, someone with some diligence should be able to find it. So, using Google, I tried to find the study that "Research suggests babies don't significantly reduce productivity and can actually boost overall employee morale.'
The first reference here is to this NYTimes article; other references were to "Happy people do work harder" (Guardian), encouraging working from home helps morale (Harvard Business Review), an article on how 10 ways to improve morale which did not include a reference to babies at work (Sparkminute), an article about how layoffs can backfire (Newsweek) and a government publication linking the amount of natural light to worker happiness.
So, NYT, what are we talking about here? What trend? What research? Where other than in Italy, assuming this has more traction there than here?
Perhaps it is better to bring babies to work before they crawl, just as an assumption. An article adding that to the list of issues American workers (male and female) often have when having babies - health care coverage, high cost, varying maternity leaves, often unpaid, limited day care options - would have been more journalistically responsible although with that list, it would likely sink to the bottom, wouldn't you think?
The first reference here is to this NYTimes article; other references were to "Happy people do work harder" (Guardian), encouraging working from home helps morale (Harvard Business Review), an article on how 10 ways to improve morale which did not include a reference to babies at work (Sparkminute), an article about how layoffs can backfire (Newsweek) and a government publication linking the amount of natural light to worker happiness.
So, NYT, what are we talking about here? What trend? What research? Where other than in Italy, assuming this has more traction there than here?
Perhaps it is better to bring babies to work before they crawl, just as an assumption. An article adding that to the list of issues American workers (male and female) often have when having babies - health care coverage, high cost, varying maternity leaves, often unpaid, limited day care options - would have been more journalistically responsible although with that list, it would likely sink to the bottom, wouldn't you think?
13
Bravissimo!
1
Good grief. A minister with government employees at her beck and call.
How about this: if you're planning on having a baby, plan on staying home or getting full-time child care.
How about this: if you're planning on having a baby, plan on staying home or getting full-time child care.
16
You obviously have never done it. I have, twice, for both of my kids. I brought them to work, pump breast milk, carry my baby with me everywhere, and I can do my work just fine. As a matter of fact, I'm even more motivated in work, and have learnt to be much more efficient (I can change diapers in less than a minute, for example). Let's just too, that I don't want to have one-on-one nanny or daycare to care for my newborn. Just because you never see it in action does not mean it cannot be done, and done right.
12
I, too, brought my baby to work (as a university professor) until he learned to crawl. It wasn't any big deal; he played on the floor near me, and was often asleep; I sometimes carried him as I taught class, and once through a conference presentation. I have had more productive months, but I think nobody, man or woman, regardless of child care arrangements, is at their most productive in the first six months with a new baby.
18
'How to Take Your Baby to Work'
Please don't.
'...Research suggests babies don’t significantly reduce productivity and can actually boost overall employee morale...'
Complete politically correct nonsense.
'...Line up a temporary sitter in case the baby is particularly fussy. That role fell to Ronzulli’s assistant, co-workers...'
And they were just so very thrilled about this, of course....
Signed, Mother Of Two
Please don't.
'...Research suggests babies don’t significantly reduce productivity and can actually boost overall employee morale...'
Complete politically correct nonsense.
'...Line up a temporary sitter in case the baby is particularly fussy. That role fell to Ronzulli’s assistant, co-workers...'
And they were just so very thrilled about this, of course....
Signed, Mother Of Two
32
Have you actually done it (ie. bring your baby to work) at all? I'm a mother of two as well, and I have done it for both of my babies, bringing them to work during their first year until they start group daycare. Naturally it depends on the job type, company culture and how pliable your baby is, but it's perfectly achievable.
4
Really Tiddle? Can you explain how a neurosurgeon could achieve this?
6
I read two of your comments so far, but noted you did not describe under what circumstances you were able to have a baby in the work place; my understanding, like those of the commenters you responded to above, is unless your work place already has children (school, day care center) or a separate room/building for them, how can babies could be brought into a workplace all day every day - I don't see how an office could operate under such circumstances, or what employer would accept the liability issues associated with having children/babies in the work place.
5
I've been bringing my babies (over the years 8 babies in total) with me first to dental school and then to work with me until they started solids so I could exclusively breastfeed them. I brought my baby and a babysitter to watch in between feedings. I would tell my bosses my intention and reassure them that the sitter would take the baby outside if it fussed so as not to disturb anyone. Since I have never had paid maternity leave it enabled me to go back to work as soon as I needed to start earning again, while still spending time with my baby.
10
It is terrific you were able to do that, but am I understanding correctly that you worked as a dentist while doing this? That would make such an arrangement feasible, with the baby and babysitter either in the examining room with you or in a nearby room (receptionist area, waiting area, empty examination room?) throughout the day. In a typical office job, this would not work, as you have coworkers' desks nearby,
5
"a growing number of businesses allow parents to take infants until they begin to crawl. " How many businesses would that be? I imagine it would be less than .005%. In the non-online world, I have never heard a single person say that they were allowed to take their child to work. In the USA not all workers even have any sort of paid time off. There are more workplaces that allow dogs to come to work than children.
30
Not all businesses and not all job types can accommodate this, that's why it'll be impossible to codify this practice into policy or law. Let's say, you work in a warehouse, or if you're a bank teller, it'll be impossible to bring your baby to work without work stoppage.
7
I brought my firstborn to work during his first year when I came back to work after a two month maternity leave. I pumped breast milk at work, I carried my baby in carrier close to my chest everywhere I go, I also worked in a place where I'm the only woman at work.
One would think it might pose problems, but everything - and I truly mean everything - worked out. My boss and colleagues and I go about our work without any interruptions. (I should say too that I'm blessed with a baby that doesn't fuss or cry much, he's a happy baby.) I might also be blessed for the fact that I could almost always have the ladies bathroom all by myself for pumping breast milk or changing diapers. More importantly, I don't need "accommodation" from others because of the baby. We all have work to do, and I don't need anyone to do anything differently just because of I have a baby, as that would not be fair to them.
Still, I'm thankful for how open-minded and understanding my colleagues and boss were, and now, all these men can see for themselves a different world in which women with children can do the work just as well, and more. That first year allows me time to look for other options of childcare (which we eventually opted for group daycare), the time to bond with my baby, all without sacrificing my career.
It takes open-mindedness, and it might not be for everyone's situation (including job type, baby health and temperament). I am thus doubtful if this can be codified into policy.
One would think it might pose problems, but everything - and I truly mean everything - worked out. My boss and colleagues and I go about our work without any interruptions. (I should say too that I'm blessed with a baby that doesn't fuss or cry much, he's a happy baby.) I might also be blessed for the fact that I could almost always have the ladies bathroom all by myself for pumping breast milk or changing diapers. More importantly, I don't need "accommodation" from others because of the baby. We all have work to do, and I don't need anyone to do anything differently just because of I have a baby, as that would not be fair to them.
Still, I'm thankful for how open-minded and understanding my colleagues and boss were, and now, all these men can see for themselves a different world in which women with children can do the work just as well, and more. That first year allows me time to look for other options of childcare (which we eventually opted for group daycare), the time to bond with my baby, all without sacrificing my career.
It takes open-mindedness, and it might not be for everyone's situation (including job type, baby health and temperament). I am thus doubtful if this can be codified into policy.
18
You were very lucky. Just as many businesses aren't in a position to stop production to accommodate Muslim prayers, most businesses aren't in a position to accommodate infants in the workplace.
9
@Avocats, Yes indeed. That's why I don't think that can be codified into effective policy. As a woman, if you don't ask (your boss), you would never know if it can be done, or not.
1
I think I'd rather let my child play and otherwise interact with other kids in a kindergarten than making them sit quietly through days of watching boring adults in meetings.
21
It is the option (of being able to take your baby to work) that counts. Naturally not everyone has a big corner office like Marisa Mayer that has enough space for big playpen for her kids while she's working, but that's really beside the point. There are days like snow days or kids not feeling well, but you have to keep going at work, the option to be able to bring the kids to work, even just for a few hours of work, goes a long way. Here, we're not talking about kindergarten kids because when kids get to that age, they're WAY too active to be docile in office for hours. Kids that age should be in school already. But we're talking about babies that mostly just eat, sleep, and poop.
4
they're talking about babies here, not 3 year olds.
2
The article seems to be discussing the pre-preschool set, for which there tends to be very little care available.
3
Perhaps more will follow Ronzulli’s lead and further prove that working full-time and raising an infant are not mutually exclusive.