Although my baby son was enrolled in daycare, one day, for extenuating circumstances, I had no choice but to bring him to work. I am a professor at a public university so this meant wearing him in a sling and teaching my classes. I was exhausted afterward but happy that I was able pull off the mom/work balance. Best of all was a conversation his presence prompted between two of my students as they exited class. They were a couple (a very ambitious young woman who was studying to be a doctor, and a much less ambitious, happy-go-lucky young man). He said: "Well, what will you do?" She replied: "Sometimes it might be difficult. And we should think about . . . ." I was thrilled that actually showing my students what the parent / work blanking act looked like made at least two young people to think, plan, and debate. It was certainly a more important life lesson than whatever I was teaching that day.
8
My son is 44 and indeed he came to work with me as a baby. I was a librarian in New York City and maternity leave was unknown, couldn't even take my sick days, because giving birth was not considered being sick. It didn't even occur to me to check with my employers at Gouverneur Hospital, I just did it. He had a laundry basket in my office and just closed my door when it was time for nursing. Everybody smiled, when I was "burping" him while using the copying machine. By the time he was two month old my mother had retired and became his permanent babysitter, so his stint as "library assistant" had ended. The memory of those times still makes us smile.
4
I'm all for better, longer leave for new parents, for on-site daycare centers, and for more telecommuting. But babies in the office? No. Several years ago I worked with a first-time mother who couldn't stand to leave her child so, after three months of maternity leave, she came back to work and brought the baby with her. It was a disaster for everyone but her. She spent all her time tending to the baby. Other co-workers constantly streamed in and out of her cubicle to visit and play. Deadlines were missed. Meetings were skipped. The few of us who weren't enthralled by the baby and didn't care to hold it or help feed and change it were ridiculed and ostracized, which created even more tension in the office. In the end, our vice president had to put the kibosh on babies in the office.
18
I currently work for a CPA who had her third child in February. She brought her baby into the office when he was about a week old, and he has been there almost every day since. Not all day--some days her husband comes by after a few hours and takes the baby, some days she's had a relative stay with the baby. My boss has altered her hours and does a lot of work from her home office, in addition to the hours she puts in at the office. I've gotten emails that she sent at 1 or 2 am, when she's been up with the baby in the night. None of this has upset our work schedule. We made it through the tax season with all our filings and extensions completed by April 18th--no problem. I actually like having the baby around--I like that he's more aware now and his little coos and cries are sweet. It's presented absolutely no challenges in our office routine. Of course, my boss owns the firm and can do what she wants, so the situation is not exactly representative of a lot of workplaces. But, having a baby at work has been just fine. Clients haven't minded, the work gets done and he's presented no problems. He goes to day care in June, and we'll miss him. It's been a fun experience.
9
Infants at work/flex time until 6 months plus onsite daycare upto 18-24 months. Then preschool.
Ms. James leads a charmed life, that has passed most of us by, but her solution is still valid, for ALL professions.
Ms. James leads a charmed life, that has passed most of us by, but her solution is still valid, for ALL professions.
4
I teach at a University. A student asked me before class started whether she could bring her 1-month old baby to class with her, as she had no regular options for care. I said yes. When the baby starts to fuss, she steps out of class, and then after the baby has calmed down they come back in. One assignment all students were required to do was a class presentation. She got through her presentation, holding her baby, and it worked out fine.
Situations will vary, just like babies are different. This doesn't work for everyone, but it can be a practical solution for a parent with a minimum of disruption for the work environment.
Situations will vary, just like babies are different. This doesn't work for everyone, but it can be a practical solution for a parent with a minimum of disruption for the work environment.
5
Or -- and I am just throwing this one out there -- what if we offered quality, day-long daycare as a basic resource for all parents in the U.S.?
Now, if only we had political candidates who see economic inequality as the real, defining issue for our age... had heard something about some crazy guy up in Vermont like that...
Now, if only we had political candidates who see economic inequality as the real, defining issue for our age... had heard something about some crazy guy up in Vermont like that...
6
Some babies are this easy, but most babies aren't.
8
I agree with those more skeptical writers who point out that James's baby was UNUSUALLY low-maintenance--I would venture to say statistically several standard deviations out. I admit I wanted to do this with my newborn, but that dream was quickly dashed. I started my first academic job, a post-doc, when my oldest son was 4 months old. I was paying a babysitter by the hour to watch him, and occasionally I tried to save money by sneaking him into required meetings or lectures. This did not work--he was just too noisy! He coo'd, burbled, shrieked--and on top of that, he needed to be held and bounced when he was awake (and not otherwise stimulated), or else he got even noisier! I realized that if I wanted to come out of the postdoc with my reputation intact, I would have to leave him with the babysitter when I was at work. At the time, I felt like he had to be the neediest baby ever, but now I realize he was actually relatively easy--he was not, after all, colicky, he was generally happy, and he had no major health issues. Today, as a college professor, I occasionally bring my 9 year old or 5 year old to work (snow day, mild sniffles, e.g.), but I am very conscious of the fact that at work my responsibility is to my students and colleagues, and even though my sons can generally entertain themselves, even small requests they make are distractions that affect my ability to focus on my students.
15
Our small school has had a policy of raising our babies in the classroom for the last twenty years. Of course, it's distracting at times, but the benefits far outweigh the problems. Our high school students see parenting in action. It brings down stress levels and creates community and empathy.
3
My daughter was born in 1981 and when I had baby sitter issues, I "took my daughter to work" at Merrill Lynch -- 165 Broadway NYC. She stayed in my office and no one ever objected.
5
Here's a rule off thumb for deciding whether a contemplated action is good manners/sensible/the right thing to do: Ask yourself, what if everyone did it?
This writer is very fortunate in her position and in her colleagues' acceptance. I doubt that would translate widely to the rest of the economy.
This writer is very fortunate in her position and in her colleagues' acceptance. I doubt that would translate widely to the rest of the economy.
13
America, you leave me stumped. What about more paid maternity leave? I had 12 months for each baby, and no part of me felt like I was missing out at work because I knew my job was waiting for me. The time I had with my babies was precious, and it allowed me to fully recover from the pregnancy and delivery, as well as the sleep deprivation of the early months. I also had the time and energy to regain my fitness and lose the baby weight. The time was as much about me as about my babies. If I hadn't had that time, it may have impacted my parenting. When I'm on my deathbed, I can't imagine that I will regret missing two years of work. But I will forever cherish my years at home.
33
I know some women who were allowed to do this at small companies. It generally does work out okay, but it requires patience. I worked from home and found that I could get a full day in for the first six month of my daughter's life, but after that she began to require too much attention. If I headed my own company, I'd definitely allow it. It seems the humane thing to do.
3
This would not be a good idea in a building that had environmental, possibly pollutant or mold issues. I worked in a rehabbed and elegant factory building with those lovely exposed brick walls and wonderful windows. We were all sick all the time and who knows if we had lead or other toxins around us. Lots of factors influence the success of babies at work. Can't see it in a cube farm either given the noise factor.
6
In the 1970s, I appeared on To Tell the Truth as imposter to a woman who was an employee of Ms. Magazine and had brought her infant to work. She had a playpen set up next to her desk. It was supposed to be the wave of the future. Four decades later, it's still a rarity on the workplace.
6
Good for you. The hostility towards parents is unreal in this country... Ignore the haters we are all just trying to do our best!
5
13 week paid leave?! My company has a generous 1 week paid leave and may others don't have any paid leave at all. The writer is very lucky to be able to bring a baby to work - and not just the odd day when your baby sitter is not available. Instead of praise for this situation, it shows how we as a nation has a big divide on who gets parental leave and arrangement for child care. Can you imagine a fast food worker or janitor bringing her/his baby to work? This article is ridiculous. Think again before you (NYT) print such a stupid article.
11
No. Just no. No one REALLY wants a baby at work. It's nice that it worked for her, but no no no.
20
I'm detecting a faint hint of expectation from some of these mothers—that an all-female, or mostly-female workgroup is somehow more 'baby-friendly' just because it's majority female..
That is blatantly sexist, and offensive. Woman≠mother.
Woman≠inherent interest in, or even liking of babies.
That is blatantly sexist, and offensive. Woman≠mother.
Woman≠inherent interest in, or even liking of babies.
12
This is like a piece Sheryl Sandberg would write, another person totally detached from reality.
24
This piece couldn't be more out of touch and ridiculous. Not everyone is a C level executive who can do as they please.
24
college admissions software? Yikes, is what I'm thinking.
4
Glad the baby wasn't a fussy one, but in this day of climate pressures and population excess why did you have a third child? You already had your replacement allottment.
13
Sorry, but I'm not oohing and cooing. Do you have a secretary? If so, how much did this person have to watch your baby and did they have any choice? Could she or he have done the same thing? What about the receptionist? The cleaning lady? You are the boss, could somebody below you have really given you a negative opinion of this? Or refused to be "part" of it? What it they refused to touch or even look at the baby? There are relatively few other people in the western world who can do something like this and for those who can and who are actually thinking this is a good idea, think for a moment about the people below you who are going to have to stand under the poop-y diaper. Not cool.
21
Let me guess. You are wealthy and light-skinned. Your subordinates are older, poorly paid, less educated and darker-skinned. Therefore, it's perfectly acceptable for you to turn them into your personal servants rather than corporate employees. Would I also be right in guessing that none of them belong to a labor union??
10
I became a single mother while living and working as a university teacher at an African university. I was able to have a full-time (daytime) nanny but I often took my son into the office, and when she was not able to work, to meetings. He was active, noisy (talked at 10 months) and very social, so I avoided situations where he might be disruptive, or at risk, and relied on friends in emergencies. From six weeks of age, he was welcomed and I was happy to be in closer contact with my colleagues.
What was striking when we travelled to the US on leave, often visiting friends in the UK en route, was the 'cooling' of attitudes toward small children as we moved toward the US. We were fine, and people supportive, in the UK, but I had to be on my guard when we reached 'home.' I read this hostile cultural vibe in so many of the comments featured here. I was not a boss, but the acceptance of babies and small children was so culturally embedded in our community in Nairobi, that I never worried about taking my son to work.
What was striking when we travelled to the US on leave, often visiting friends in the UK en route, was the 'cooling' of attitudes toward small children as we moved toward the US. We were fine, and people supportive, in the UK, but I had to be on my guard when we reached 'home.' I read this hostile cultural vibe in so many of the comments featured here. I was not a boss, but the acceptance of babies and small children was so culturally embedded in our community in Nairobi, that I never worried about taking my son to work.
7
It's called being a professional. In the US that means having a focused attitude for what you were hired to do. In the US it is proper decorum to not mix family and work (unless family works where you do). Most Americans are not hostile to either babies or small children, however, having them at work is usually counterproductive for average (non-CEO) employees.
16
My third child also came with me to work, from 6 weeks to 4 1/2 months. I was a research assistant, and had my own office, but was located in a library where silence was important. It would not have worked with my two older children, who were more vocal and more active, but my third child seemed to intuit that she got to be with Mama as long as she was quiet. I had a car-bed where she napped, and I nursed her under a blanket. I learned to do my typing reaching around her on my lap in a sling. 4 1/2 months is about when she started reaching for things, and that is also when we were relocating for my husband's job. I have always been enormously grateful to my supervisor, who was a single academic, and not the "cooing" type, yet made the accommodations that allowed me to both support my family and care for my baby.
21
The fact that no one complained to you doesn't mean no one complained. Nobody wants to come off as anti-baby. Believe me, the discussions you didn't hear were not so kind. I know from experience.
41
It's surprising to me how out of touch this opinion piece is. She is the CEO of the company! The CEO! She can do almost anything that she wants and the employees have to deal with it. It's great that she is in this position, but her experience has little in common with the experiences of most people. Are the readers of the NYTimes this out of touch with the reality that most of us face? It makes me wonder why I'm spending my money on a subscription.
42
I'm thinking about this from the baby's perspective. As many others have pointed out, a newborn baby may not have a very good immune system, and perhaps should not be spending entire days out in public.
And what about older babies, who are beginning to need to explore their environment. I shudder to think about how development would be stunted by being confined all day to a play pen or other safe sterile section of the office so that Parent can work. Is an older baby able to interact socially as is needed as a baby continues to develop and be awake for more hours of the day? If so, that means that someone isn't doing official work during those times.
It seems that babies would be better off in an area that is set up to meet their needs, with people attending to them, instead of being expected to adapt to an office setting that is not set up for babies with people whose focus is elsewhere.
And what about older babies, who are beginning to need to explore their environment. I shudder to think about how development would be stunted by being confined all day to a play pen or other safe sterile section of the office so that Parent can work. Is an older baby able to interact socially as is needed as a baby continues to develop and be awake for more hours of the day? If so, that means that someone isn't doing official work during those times.
It seems that babies would be better off in an area that is set up to meet their needs, with people attending to them, instead of being expected to adapt to an office setting that is not set up for babies with people whose focus is elsewhere.
11
No, no. This is selfish. This is inappropriate. This is not what people sign up for when they go to work and have meetings. You heard from some who were positive but it would have been impossible for others to challenge or complain about.
I am a woman with no interest being around children. I don't expect them at work no matter how well behaved. Occasionally people bring their kids to work at my office but this is contained in their office and usually for extreme cases. It's not distracting others.
I volunteer with other segments of the population that many dismiss, so I know I am not a heartless person.
I am a woman with no interest being around children. I don't expect them at work no matter how well behaved. Occasionally people bring their kids to work at my office but this is contained in their office and usually for extreme cases. It's not distracting others.
I volunteer with other segments of the population that many dismiss, so I know I am not a heartless person.
36
The glass in the windows of the corner office have a funny way of warping the occupant's view of the world.
43
I took both of my babies to work. Fortunately I was the business manager for my husband's medical practice, so I really was privileged and able to make that choice myself. However I also had a a lot of work that needed to be done and was responsible for three doctors and 9 other employees, so 12 other people depended on me to get my job done baby or not! That said, I was doing office work for the practice within 24 hours of giving birth (thankfully from home). With privilege comes responsibility.
My first daughter came with me until she was nearly one. I came to my senses with the second. By that point I had a sitter for the older one and found that the point of diminishing return was when the baby became mobile. So at about 5 or 6 months she started staying at home more often. The advantages of bringing an infant to work were immense. I was able to breastfeed for 12 and 14 months respectively, the girls both slept for much of the time they were at the office, and they really were adored by office staff and patients alike. It was a lovely time in our lives. I would absolutely recommend bringing babies under six months old to work if it's appropriate and can be accommodated in a heartbeat! If only all moms (or dads) could be so lucky.
My first daughter came with me until she was nearly one. I came to my senses with the second. By that point I had a sitter for the older one and found that the point of diminishing return was when the baby became mobile. So at about 5 or 6 months she started staying at home more often. The advantages of bringing an infant to work were immense. I was able to breastfeed for 12 and 14 months respectively, the girls both slept for much of the time they were at the office, and they really were adored by office staff and patients alike. It was a lovely time in our lives. I would absolutely recommend bringing babies under six months old to work if it's appropriate and can be accommodated in a heartbeat! If only all moms (or dads) could be so lucky.
11
While it is great that the author had the option to bring her infant to work, this should not be the expectation. Women are fighting for maternity leave as it is...the author's intent may to advocate for more babies in the work place, but I fear that this practice perpetuates the all-too-common idea that women (and their babies) do not need more than a few weeks at home. After just experiencing labor, the aftermath and the intense need to focus on my baby, I'm not sure how this woman did it. It would be great if women had more options - to go to work with babies AND to stay home with them if they so choose (for longer than 12 weeks!)
18
I took my baby to work for ten months, at a non-profit where secondary trauma & burnout rates are high. We had three office babies during this time period, & it went amazingly well. The morale in our office skyrocketed. As with everything, I don't think this would work for every parent, or for every infant, and most parents would be the first people to say, "This isn't working."
6
This is completely unrealistic. It may have worked out for this one mother and infant, but would not work with most parents and kids. When my kids were young, it was nice to have a break at work. Most importantly, my patients wouldn't have appreciated one or more of my kids around. It would have been too distracting, selfish, and too much of an imposition on coworkers.
I suspect that the story is glossed over with rose colored glasses. As your baby gets older, they are awake much more and need constant attention and supervision. There really isn't a way to provide that in the office. There are also fussy times from upset tummies and ear aches which would make this arrangement completely unlikely. Coworkers and clients can't be expected to tolerate someone else's baby in a professional environment. "Yes" to affordable daycare and work from home arrangements. "No" to encouraging parents to bring baby to work regularly.
Also, always include the dads in these discussions. Dads should have paternity leave too. And a final note...pets are great but they aren't human children. Don't compare babies at work with bringing a dog or cat to work; these are completely different issues!
I suspect that the story is glossed over with rose colored glasses. As your baby gets older, they are awake much more and need constant attention and supervision. There really isn't a way to provide that in the office. There are also fussy times from upset tummies and ear aches which would make this arrangement completely unlikely. Coworkers and clients can't be expected to tolerate someone else's baby in a professional environment. "Yes" to affordable daycare and work from home arrangements. "No" to encouraging parents to bring baby to work regularly.
Also, always include the dads in these discussions. Dads should have paternity leave too. And a final note...pets are great but they aren't human children. Don't compare babies at work with bringing a dog or cat to work; these are completely different issues!
29
I don't believe pets belong at an office either.
7
My workplace would never allow this, on safety reasons alone. Simply put, what worked for Ms. James just wouldn't for most people in the workforce today, for a multitude of reasons. Ms. James was quite lucky and privileged for this to even be an option to consider.
22
Yeah. We British do play on our stereotypes. It pleases you Americans so much!
3
The fact is that parents sometimes need to do this whether or not their jobs like it, so it should be expected if not encouraged. I remember playing with carbon paper at my dad's office and alphabetizing files at my mom's office as a kid. At my law office, there has never been a problem with someone bringing in a kid, from partner to secretary, and no one secretly hates it as far as I know. It happens. I find many adults to be bigger babies (whiny, loud, inconsiderate) than the typical infant anyway.
MAKE your baby work! YOU need the cash.
7
No. Just no.
29
This works just fine for the boss, of course no one will complain. Of course all parents need paid maternity leave.
But a baby in the office, who covers all the work that still requires completion daily? Since even a great baby, needs plenty of attention during an 8 shift. Odds are it isn't the parent, who will need to take baby home for the evening.
Yes, I like babies and often volunteered to watch the boss' kids when she needed to bring them into the office. But I still needed to cover my daily workload and meet my goals. The reality of a widespread practice of bringing in baby, will result in coworkers who covered maternity leave, then covering infant in office care. And even those of us who enjoy babies, will be totally annoyed at some point.
But a baby in the office, who covers all the work that still requires completion daily? Since even a great baby, needs plenty of attention during an 8 shift. Odds are it isn't the parent, who will need to take baby home for the evening.
Yes, I like babies and often volunteered to watch the boss' kids when she needed to bring them into the office. But I still needed to cover my daily workload and meet my goals. The reality of a widespread practice of bringing in baby, will result in coworkers who covered maternity leave, then covering infant in office care. And even those of us who enjoy babies, will be totally annoyed at some point.
23
I think Ms. James is interpreting politeness and deference as acceptance and approval. Her clients took several days and flew across the ocean to meet with her, so what will they say when she shows up with a baby? Let's reschedule? No, of course not! And of course they're going to tell her how cute her baby is and how awesome it is that she's such a modern parent! What else can they do?
And what about in the office? Can everyone bring their baby, or is it just the boss? How many babies can fit in a meeting before someone says enough?
And what about in the office? Can everyone bring their baby, or is it just the boss? How many babies can fit in a meeting before someone says enough?
60
Ah, to be a member of the one percent.
This is insanely out of touch.
This is insanely out of touch.
50
Many haters seem not to have read this entire article. The author had stayed at home with her first 2 babies and found that solution unsatisfying. So she thought outside the box. She's not saying this solution will work for everyone; she's simply describing her experience. And yes, as the CEO of a tech firm, she obviously had options that minimum wage workers, brain surgeons or classroom teachers would not have. But as a feminist, I say, more power to her! The personal is political. She made a choice that worked for her and others supported her. And the more women normalize their actions and let others see them (breastfeeding at work, taking parental leave, using birth control, speaking up against racism, etc.) the more powerful their actions become.
20
So she thought outside the box...that everyone who worked for her should have to deal with her life choices!
32
Yes! I also felt like many didn't read it. She did it for a few months when her child was not yet mobile. When my son was at that age, I would take him to movies and hear from the other moviegoers, "there was a baby in here? I didn't hear him make a peep!" At ten months, my husband brings him to his office (he's a lawyer in a small firm) and we arrange for alternate care when he has to be in court.
Why be so quick to judge when most of the commenters here have never met this woman and don't actually know if it worked or didn't work for her?
Why be so quick to judge when most of the commenters here have never met this woman and don't actually know if it worked or didn't work for her?
9
An administrative staffer brought her infant son to the rural law office where I worked 35 years ago. I was amazed at how simple it was. Before long, even the resident curmudgeon was lending a hand when needed. Someone always had a few minutes or a baby-adaptable task to do. I remember rocking him at my desk while I read advance sheets. It probably helped that the office was 3/4 female. He left the office at one year and was greatly missed. Today he is returning the favor by working and paying my social security.
20
Other people should not have to tolerate your child at work. If you want to be with your baby all day stay home. Not everyone likes kids, babies in particular. Why do people with babies think the entire world thinks their baby is the greatest. I understand that you as a parent think that, but people go to work to work and have adult interaction. They do not go to to be disrupted by babies, children, pets, or whatever other security blanket people need to bring to work with them. Honestly, can people get any more self centered than this woman?
48
Yes they all took turns holding the CEOs baby and
Everyone that you pay and hire and fire thought it was an excellent idea
Executives get to do stuff the rest of us cannot
Just because people didn't tell you that crossed a line doesn't mean you didn't
The office chaos you created was an insult to every professional in your office
Everyone that you pay and hire and fire thought it was an excellent idea
Executives get to do stuff the rest of us cannot
Just because people didn't tell you that crossed a line doesn't mean you didn't
The office chaos you created was an insult to every professional in your office
73
I have a weekly meeting in which one of the women brings her baby every week, and I hate it. It's incredibly distracting, both to her and to everyone else in the room. She's constantly interrupting herself to see if baby wants more blueberries, she's constantly asking people to repeat themselves because she was getting toys out for baby. Meanwhile everyone else needs to keep their phones, pens, flash drives, coffee cups, power cables, etc, out of the reach of baby. All of us have had to say things like "Don't put that in your mouth, Baby!" or "Don't put your finger there, Baby!" We're not there to be her ersatz daycare, we're there to do our jobs! But realistically what can we, as her colleagues, say? Your kid annoys me? Who's gonna say that?
If I'm expected to be someone's nanny while doing the rest of my job, I want a raise.
If I'm expected to be someone's nanny while doing the rest of my job, I want a raise.
120
Wow, you really think that being considerate of a baby in your presence means you're doing the work of a nanny? Could it be that your hostility is because you have no idea what caring for a child actually entails?
1
Neither Ivanka Trump nor Jared Kushner are babies. Nor is it clear that they are "working".
My daughter was left with a baby sitter-even overnight- while her professional parents worked long hours and traveled. There was no thought ever given to taking her to work. Except for joining her Dad in the office on an occasional weekend.
Why does this obligation fall on the mother in a culture that tries to deny women agency over their procreative, child raising and personal health choices?
Being Melania Trump or Elizabeth Windsor or Ivanka Trump allows you to take your babies to work. Most of us were not that smart.
My daughter was left with a baby sitter-even overnight- while her professional parents worked long hours and traveled. There was no thought ever given to taking her to work. Except for joining her Dad in the office on an occasional weekend.
Why does this obligation fall on the mother in a culture that tries to deny women agency over their procreative, child raising and personal health choices?
Being Melania Trump or Elizabeth Windsor or Ivanka Trump allows you to take your babies to work. Most of us were not that smart.
11
I wish some the commenters could be more gracious. Ms. James isn't suggesting this would (or should) work for everyone. Only that is some cases it may be a wonderful way to allow new Moms and Dads greater flexibility in managing their home and office life.
I long ago stopped thinking my job was the most important thing in my life. I am a dedicated and loyal employee who works very hard. But for me, my job is a vehicle to allow me to do the things I truly adore-hike and swim and garden with a roof over my head. What these articles do is give me hope that we as a society can allow work to become secondary to living. Certainly necessary and worthy of doing well at, but not the be all end all to our existence.
I long ago stopped thinking my job was the most important thing in my life. I am a dedicated and loyal employee who works very hard. But for me, my job is a vehicle to allow me to do the things I truly adore-hike and swim and garden with a roof over my head. What these articles do is give me hope that we as a society can allow work to become secondary to living. Certainly necessary and worthy of doing well at, but not the be all end all to our existence.
9
When I was abandoned 7 months pregnant by my baby's father (my duly wedded husband, a lawyer), who refused to pay our medical bills and basic support, I had a dilemma (no family help, as my mother had died the year before, and my father was hospitalized): how do I work at a job to pay our keep, but also care for my baby (her father refused to keep her for part of the day at his law office, where his secretary--now his mistress--could watch over her)? I could either give her up for adoption (his choice), or take her to work with me. I very much wanted my child, so with permission of my employer, I took my baby to my workplace where I earned minimum wage. I learned the hard way that the most important question for our society is What About The Children? When will fathers be required to do their share of childcare? How do women have equal opportunity for careers, since we cannot be two places at the same time, both home and at work? With the kindness of strangers I managed to work outside the home, go to night school and earn MS, PHD, become a college prof, write books and plays, and remarry, a man who loves my children and respects my work. I told my students to bring their children to class if no childcare available, and we would cope, which we did, happily. And I have since 1970 been a feminist activist, focus on children (my soon-to-be-published book titled "WombPower, the hand that rocks the cradle should rule the world").
72
I am sorry for your situation, but why should it lead anyone to assume that the father's secretary should care for his child at work? Extra-marital affair notwithstanding, your indignation about no one acquiescing to that proposal is preposterous.
8
I think this is great idea to try. Thank you for sharing your story. I'd much prefer a baby in the office to other animals.
7
My first son, Jason, went to work as a tiny infant with my wife. Congressman Tim Wirth (Colorado) took his own office and turned it half into a nursery and half into an office for Jason / mom. It worked splendidly and convinced me that young folks can easily be included in the daily hum / drum of work / life.
Imagine if K-Mart, Walmart, Target and the like placed a small day care facility in the back of their store for employees. Knowing your child was never more than a minute away would / could and does improve employee attitude, output, and saves them huge amounts of money on child care. I wonder if chain store CEO's ever thought about such a plan?
Imagine if K-Mart, Walmart, Target and the like placed a small day care facility in the back of their store for employees. Knowing your child was never more than a minute away would / could and does improve employee attitude, output, and saves them huge amounts of money on child care. I wonder if chain store CEO's ever thought about such a plan?
39
On-site childcare is fantastic! I had my toddler son in on-site care when I was briefly a cook in a nursing home, many years ago. I think I paid a small amount for the service. I loved going by the windows of their play area and seeing him with his buddies, sometimes stopping in for a visit. So reassuring to see that his care was excellent.
It wasn't even an especially large business. I don't know why more employers don't do this. It would probably be a cheaper solution for employers in the long run to the longer paid leave that women are hankering for.
It wasn't even an especially large business. I don't know why more employers don't do this. It would probably be a cheaper solution for employers in the long run to the longer paid leave that women are hankering for.
1
These comments are so disheartening.
I am not a baby person, not a parent, and am not one to jump up to swoon if a colleague stops by with a new infant. However young babies are generally quiet little lumps if their needs are being met and I wouldn't mind at all if this was a policy in the office.
Someone has to be the first to try these ideas out, it will normally be a higher up. The author acknowledged that this wouldn't work for every job, every parent, or every baby. They didn't seem delusional or to say this is how everyone should be, only "Hey, here is another option that might work for some people and some workplaces." It allowed her to be a mother and a woman who acts as an individual that loves her job.
Let's embrace a multitude of solutions to meet the needs of all parents. The vitriol expressed towards the author in the comment section is yet one more thing that makes me feel like we are moving backwards in achieving gender equality. It reinforces the fear that I'm in the minority for thinking thats a problem.
So what if it is only okay if she is the CEO - we consider it a perk that some CEOs (mostly male)get paid 300% of the average worker but a female executive cannot show up with her baby for a month or so?
I'm curious how many of the "Hell no" commenters fight to defund planned parenthood and call themselves pro-life because the infants life is so sacred? If it's sacred let's support mothers' decisions and not be so ready to judge them.
I am not a baby person, not a parent, and am not one to jump up to swoon if a colleague stops by with a new infant. However young babies are generally quiet little lumps if their needs are being met and I wouldn't mind at all if this was a policy in the office.
Someone has to be the first to try these ideas out, it will normally be a higher up. The author acknowledged that this wouldn't work for every job, every parent, or every baby. They didn't seem delusional or to say this is how everyone should be, only "Hey, here is another option that might work for some people and some workplaces." It allowed her to be a mother and a woman who acts as an individual that loves her job.
Let's embrace a multitude of solutions to meet the needs of all parents. The vitriol expressed towards the author in the comment section is yet one more thing that makes me feel like we are moving backwards in achieving gender equality. It reinforces the fear that I'm in the minority for thinking thats a problem.
So what if it is only okay if she is the CEO - we consider it a perk that some CEOs (mostly male)get paid 300% of the average worker but a female executive cannot show up with her baby for a month or so?
I'm curious how many of the "Hell no" commenters fight to defund planned parenthood and call themselves pro-life because the infants life is so sacred? If it's sacred let's support mothers' decisions and not be so ready to judge them.
23
Wow, are you misreading the "Hell no" commenters.
19
Babies are great, much better than dogs.
4
Totally disagree.
19
Because of the lack of government support for parenthood in this country (long enough paid family leave, no affordable day care options), you really can't "have it all" when you become a parent in general and a mother, in particular. Until our goverment catches up with what all other first-world countries do, what if people in power and the privileged and wealthy who "can make it work" because they are the bosses (The author, Ms Meyer) or have money to hire enough nannies or pay for expensive day care (Ivanka Trump) get out of their bubbles and work with the rest of us to make it work for ALL of us? Unless we come up with a socially conscious policy, Ms. Sandbergs' Lean-In shtick, Ms. Meyer's and this author's "working mother" solution and Ivanka' s "working mother" faux-cause (tax credits and vouchers for the rich) are laughable and nothing more than a band-aid for those who can afford it while the rest of us have to deal with a gaping open wound. Just like healthcare, there is a reason why other developed countries have universal solutions for these issues: any other way, only works for the wealthy and privileged few.
21
So, if all of your underlings decided to bring their kids to work one day you'd be OK with that, right? And it would be just fine if I brought my three dogs to work, right? Wait, what's that you said? No, all of those kids and dogs would be just too much of a "distraction" in the workplace?
Oh, right...it's OK if you're the CEO.
Ms. James you are completely out of touch with reality. I'm sure glad I don't work for you.
Oh, right...it's OK if you're the CEO.
Ms. James you are completely out of touch with reality. I'm sure glad I don't work for you.
69
You are the one out of touch with reality.
3
What are you, 10?
This is a lose-lose-lose situation for the employee, coworkers and the baby.
Bringing a baby to work sounds like the ultimate attempt at multitasking, which has been shown to be ineffective. Worse, this requires all the employees around the baby bringer to multi-task.
i have no doubt in the world that I was able to be a great parent when my kids were young because I could focus on them entirely when so was home, and I could focus on work at the office.
Bringing a baby to work sounds like the ultimate attempt at multitasking, which has been shown to be ineffective. Worse, this requires all the employees around the baby bringer to multi-task.
i have no doubt in the world that I was able to be a great parent when my kids were young because I could focus on them entirely when so was home, and I could focus on work at the office.
22
Perhaps you just need to hone your multi-tasking skillzzzzz
Back in 1984 we implemented a strategic decision to hire more women (60% female company) in a medical devices firm in NJ. This instantly led to babies in the company and work from home common circumstances. Crying babies and even crawling infants exploring everywhere was so commonplace that no one noticed or cared. It was normal and healthy. At any given moment or second some mom would hand you a baby to care for because she needed to take a call or finish a task. Normal. The end point was corporate growth rates of ~35% and a 15% after tax profit (including funding profit sharing). By 1991 a Fortune 300 company acquired the fast growing enterprise. Go figure?
42
Not my baby(s), not my problem.
6
What was your liability insurance like? Babies everywhere, crawling,etc., sounds like you paid a lot for it. In our little office our liability insurance was quite high, I can't even imagine what it would have been if we had babies everywhere.
7
I applaud this woman for sharing her story and generating discussion about an important topic: whether (as some comments have asserted) work is work, home is home, and a person who mixes the two in this way is "half-baked." As a full time, non-CEO working mom of two, both of my kids have been to my workplace at various ages, including infancy. There are clearly important questions to address - like how colleagues can meaningfully express input on this as a potential workplace policy/accommodation and whether such approaches tend to slow momentum for more universal solutions, like on-site daycare. I welcome this discussion and applaud this executive for putting herself out there to help it along. It's not easy to open yourself to criticism but if people like her didn't, we'd never see evolution from traditional (male-anchored) norms of "work is work and home is home," which simply doesn't work for today's working moms and dads.
11
Ugh - another "Ivanka Trump" child-care-for-the-privileged idea - right up there with vouchers for private schools and nannies, so the affluent can have their privileged choices subsidized by the rest of us.
I've worked in family-friendly workplaces in which parents were welcome to bring babies and young children for the occasional short visits and mothers could bring their children a couple of days a year when a caregiver was sick or school was closed.
But even those rare occasions were disruptive. The parents could not perform more than a tiny fraction of a normal day's work or be productive those days - and neither could those working closely with them.
What we need are nationwide family-friendly and human-friendly work policies that allow for a reasonable amount of maternal leave plus affordable or free on-site child care. And I don't want to hear any excuses why we can't do this - this is what is done in Northern Europe, and it works very well.
Please, NY Times - enough with the Problems of the Privileged - and their know-it-all "solutions" that are as relevant to 99.9% of us as Ivanka's "working mother" and "career" advice. All this article is good for is a skit on SNL - maybe Leslie Jones & Melissa McCarthy as fast-food workers with babies on their backs.
I've worked in family-friendly workplaces in which parents were welcome to bring babies and young children for the occasional short visits and mothers could bring their children a couple of days a year when a caregiver was sick or school was closed.
But even those rare occasions were disruptive. The parents could not perform more than a tiny fraction of a normal day's work or be productive those days - and neither could those working closely with them.
What we need are nationwide family-friendly and human-friendly work policies that allow for a reasonable amount of maternal leave plus affordable or free on-site child care. And I don't want to hear any excuses why we can't do this - this is what is done in Northern Europe, and it works very well.
Please, NY Times - enough with the Problems of the Privileged - and their know-it-all "solutions" that are as relevant to 99.9% of us as Ivanka's "working mother" and "career" advice. All this article is good for is a skit on SNL - maybe Leslie Jones & Melissa McCarthy as fast-food workers with babies on their backs.
62
Great comment. I agree completely - especially with the 'Ivanka Trump child care for the privileged idea' and the plea to the media to stop these impractical, unworkable, non-news articles.
15
You have got to be kidding me. It's bad enough when there is a newborn or toddler nearby on a plane or train - bringing an infant to the office is entirely inappropriate.
50
No. Just no. I have worked with a baby in the office and it was completely unprofessional and often distracting.
The writer should recognize that people in her workplace are forced to adore her child; she is their BOSS. Completely selfish and unfair.
The writer should recognize that people in her workplace are forced to adore her child; she is their BOSS. Completely selfish and unfair.
65
Absurd, Americans should be able to take advantage of generous maternity and paternity leave packages that are normal in Europe instead of taking newborns to work.
21
It's called work for a reason. Bring the kids and dogs along. Will it be a distraction? Maybe, but you're a professional. Make it work.
4
That only works with quiet complacent babies, usually girls. My boys where to crazy.
1
"Usually girls" are complacent babies? I highly doubt that is true. And to the extent it is, how much of this complacency is a function of how early little boys and little girls are socialized into these stereotypical roles.
4
Yeah, my mom would have laughed out loud at that. She was fond of telling a story about the time when I was about 18 months old that she went to answer the phone and turned around to find me nearly 6 feet off the ground after climbing to the top of a kitchen storage cabinet. :-D
1
All 3 of my kids were quiet and easy-going, boys and the one girl. One friends used to kid me and tell my next baby would be normal. I think it may be genetic!
1
I have gone through multiple miscarriages. During the first few weeks after each one I would have panic attacks when I would see a newborn. I could not have survived work if there had been babies around. Work was the one place I knew I could go and NOT see babies. Please, no babies at work. There are many many more people going through things like this than you may realize.
19
It's not other people's responsibility to walk on eggshells around you to avoid your triggers. The world doesn't revolve around you and other women and mothers aren't responsible for soothing your pain.
3
Caroline - Yes, you are right that the fertile shouldn't have to walk on eggshells.
But having granted you that...gosh, you just sound mean.
But having granted you that...gosh, you just sound mean.
6
There are plenty of solid arguments opposed to the idea of babies in the workplace. Fear of triggering someone's negative emotional reaction is not one of those solid arguments.
It is not the job of the workplace to shield its employees from negative emotions. What if a daycare center moved in next door to your workplace? Would you expect the company to move so you wouldn't have to see a baby.
If you are not emotionally healthy to be in the presence of a baby without having a panic attack, you probably are nor tread venture into public at all or to be at work.
It is not the job of the workplace to shield its employees from negative emotions. What if a daycare center moved in next door to your workplace? Would you expect the company to move so you wouldn't have to see a baby.
If you are not emotionally healthy to be in the presence of a baby without having a panic attack, you probably are nor tread venture into public at all or to be at work.
10
Judging from the posts below, the vast majority of people have a pretty good take on this, but I would like to go a step further; People bringing their infants to more and more inappropriate places. I had a guy bring his infant to the local driving range, which is just a grassy area with hitting areas designated with ropes, not walls. He actually got mad when I suggested he not bring his infant child to the driving range. I have many other examples but the bottom line is this: Parents need to understand the commitment they've made by having a child, which includes interrupting your life and hobbies in order to pay attention to your kid(s), AND to show the rest of us a little consideration. When I am paying top dollar in a nice restaurant or watching a game in a sports bar, I don't want to listen to your squalling child. And I'm not sure when it became totally acceptable to haul infants halfway around the planet on an airplane, but I'm pretty sure I'm not alone in wishing those parents would just bite the bullet and stay home until the child is at least 5 years old and hopefully has some manners. So if you think that taking your baby to work is OK, where does it stop? On your dirt biking rides or hunting trips?
43
Families have to fly with infants to visit families in other parts of the world.
7
@ Zejee
Depends how you define "have to".
Depends how you define "have to".
10
I agree with you about it being inappropriate to bring baby to work or the unsafe driving range. I disagree about the restaurants and airplanes. Paying customers in safe, public places can bring their kids....and the kids are also paying customers. Socializing kids to restaurants is important and often the kid's presence is wanted for grandparent birthdays and other special occasions.
As for airplanes, kids over two years old pay full fare on planes. I tolerate adults who are rude and loud and who should be able to control their behavior. We all should tolerate a baby on a plane who doesn't have control because they are too young and innocent. Travel needs to happen, even for young families. They have as much right to be on a flight as anyone.
But babies don't belong at work.
As for airplanes, kids over two years old pay full fare on planes. I tolerate adults who are rude and loud and who should be able to control their behavior. We all should tolerate a baby on a plane who doesn't have control because they are too young and innocent. Travel needs to happen, even for young families. They have as much right to be on a flight as anyone.
But babies don't belong at work.
7
My dad was a manager of a group of software engineers back in the mid to late 1980s. One of his employees brought her baby girl to work w/her for at least the first few months. As I recall, the baby had a makeshift crib in a box under the employee's desk. That accommodation kept a valuable employee in the workforce...it was a win-win for all involved. I'm not saying that that would work for everyone—none of the jobs I've had (excepting my freelance work) would have been able to accommodate that situation—but if it works for the employee & the employer, then why not give it a try?
13
When my son was born my wife and I took this delicious baby bundle, a few weeks old, to the movie theater and he slept like a stone while we watched a flick. (We knew we might have to leave in a hurry.) But we got to see the whole movie. When we left we said "Well that was easy! Let's do that again!" AND BOY WERE WE WRONG. That young man had other thoughts and *dependably* sleeping through movies was not one of them. So we didn't get to go to movies again till we had geared up for the whole babysitter routine.
I kinda think taking him to work would have worked out about the same way.
I kinda think taking him to work would have worked out about the same way.
18
For as long as people can make this work, it sounds like a dream and I applaud these energetic chance-takers. However, a lot of children could bot be made part of such a program because of their personality and health issues.
A government-wide one-size-fits-all deal would appear to be unworkable. The reactions by workers who have been unable to have kids will probably not be voiced but must be considered. Those feelings run deepest of all.
And won't there be strong introspective regrets from those workers who know they were little monsters to their moms watching these passages becoming public?
There's nothing like a grandchild for digging up those recollections....
A government-wide one-size-fits-all deal would appear to be unworkable. The reactions by workers who have been unable to have kids will probably not be voiced but must be considered. Those feelings run deepest of all.
And won't there be strong introspective regrets from those workers who know they were little monsters to their moms watching these passages becoming public?
There's nothing like a grandchild for digging up those recollections....
2
Dear God, please, no. I'm one of "those women" who never wanted children and who doesn't enjoy spending lots of time with the youngest ones, especially in what are traditionally adults-only situations. I go to an office to work, not cuddle someone's child. I get enough pressure to make a fuss over colleagues' new babies when they bring them into the office for a visit. Please, don't make me pretend to be enchanted by your latest family member 8 hours a day, 5 days a week. Just let me do my job without getting spit up on.
49
I'm one of those women who has two children and yet would be less than thrilled if parents brought their children to work, to the point that I would seek another job.
17
While this piece makes "bring baby to work" sound lovely, utopian even, it is so clearly a rare workplace where this might be structurally possible. The negative comments below clearly see the privilege displayed in this piece. No one wants to tell anyone not to enjoy and nurture their infants, and clearly this woman worked in an environment where that was possible. But a generalization cannot be made from this very singular experience. Bringing up baby requires more systemic accommodations than what random high end office spaces might allow.
6
I'd rather have a infant in the office than a dog. Frankly, I'd rather folks take their life choices rides by themselves.
6
I work in child care and I find this extremely distressing. Not because the author is not using child care but because she is not ENGAGING her child. Having your infant sit in a sling for 7+ hours while you sit in front of a computer is honestly borderline abuse. I'm sure she took her out from time to time but to not have any activities for your child or other children for them to interact with is extremely disturbing to me. This isnt about wanting to be around your baby, this about the author not wanting to miss work. This is a major problem with parents today. They arent understanding of how important early childhood education is to a child's healthy development. I'd also like to reiterate something that others have pointed out. This author is a CEO. She had the opportunity to bring her child to work. Virtually no one else has that option and honestly most don't want it. What about all the parent's who would give anything AT LEAST 3 months parental leave with their babies? She says that her coworkers were "understanding" but were they really? Whose gonna tell the CEO that their baby is loud and distracting from a productive work environment?
33
I'm the (male) CEO of a small company and I've been bringing my son into work
since the age of 1 month. He is now 16 months old. While I rarely ask my employees to help out (except when I have to use the restroom) his presence has livened up the work atmosphere tremendously. On the rare occasions I leave him at home everyone asks for him, and say they miss him. Now people may just be paying me deference, but no more than smiling and saying good day when they may prefer to be grumpy. It has been the best thing for me, for him, and for my wife who has a demanding job working from home.
I realized I am extremely privileged to be able to do this- but this perk is probably the best thing about being the CEO!
And for those who hate it - too bad. My son and the time we've shared is more valuable to me than anything or anyone else's opinion.
since the age of 1 month. He is now 16 months old. While I rarely ask my employees to help out (except when I have to use the restroom) his presence has livened up the work atmosphere tremendously. On the rare occasions I leave him at home everyone asks for him, and say they miss him. Now people may just be paying me deference, but no more than smiling and saying good day when they may prefer to be grumpy. It has been the best thing for me, for him, and for my wife who has a demanding job working from home.
I realized I am extremely privileged to be able to do this- but this perk is probably the best thing about being the CEO!
And for those who hate it - too bad. My son and the time we've shared is more valuable to me than anything or anyone else's opinion.
31
So every time you go to the restroom you have to ask one of your employees to help out and watch your baby? Unless these employees' job descriptions include, "perform short-term babysitting," you are abusing your employees.
And, yes, they are paying deference to you in pretending they like the baby in the office. What better way to curry favor with the boss than to compliment him on his offspring?
Your first priority as a CEO when you are at work is to do what's best for your employees and your business, not what's best for you, your wife, and your child.
And, yes, they are paying deference to you in pretending they like the baby in the office. What better way to curry favor with the boss than to compliment him on his offspring?
Your first priority as a CEO when you are at work is to do what's best for your employees and your business, not what's best for you, your wife, and your child.
22
Whew. I'm glad I don't work for you. You're obviously a great dad, but your management leaves something to be desired.
16
Wow. And they call Boomers the Me Generation.
14
I find it sad to hear a mother of three talk about how much she missed work when her baby is weeks old. What is the point of having a child - let alone three - if at the most precious and important bonding time you find them tedious and work preferable. There is a reason that much of western Europe gives a year or more of paid parental leave - recognizing how important this family time is. I know this is not the author's main point - but nevertheless - as a working mother myself - it always broke my heart when I had to trade work for baby time - it seems cruel to all involved and when I read top level women like the author talk about how relieved they were to go back to work like this - it reminds me how out of touch the C suite is.
17
Almost no countries in Europe give a full year of fully-paid parental leave. I believe Lithuania is the only country that provides this. Even the typically progressive countries in Scandinavia provide something like 6 months at 80% salary. This is still far better than the complete lack of mandated parental leave in the U.S.
4
No discussion at all about why her Husband never faced the decision to take the baby to work. Why does the wife automatically do it? people have been expressing breast milk for 30 years now.
14
My organization adopted a Newborn At Work policy last year. I am the second mom to take advantage of the benefit. I've been back at work for 3 weeks now, with my 3 month-old baby. I work part-time and bring my baby two days a week. My coworkers have reacted with complete support and enjoyment. He lightens the mood in most meetings -- my program manager said, "we should have babies in every meeting!" Coworkers love to hold him for a few minutes of "baby therapy." I am able to get my work done and my clients love to hear my baby cooing in the background. Under our policy, which is similar to the Washington Dept. of Health policy (http://www.doh.wa.gov/CommunityandEnvironment/WorksiteWellness/InfantatW... ), there are certain rules, such as coworkers have the right to submit an anonymous complaint if the baby is particularly disruptive. As long as the expectations are clearly laid out, and the environment is conducive, this can be a wonderful way to transition back to work while continuing to bond with your baby.
31
Those lucky to conceive when they choose will never experience the pain of those who can't, or the disdain of those whose worlds revolve around something/one other than the narcissistic mom. Think all those women who struggle to keep it together for whatever the reason (and there are so many) they're not parents want the haven of the office infiltrated? Isn't caring for a barely newborn a job that's supposed to be done at home (hence why it's called LEAVE)? If there was an in-office day care available to all employees and removed from the personal environment that's different. That a CEO can be so insensitive is sad for all her dependent employees.
40
You probably consider way too many of these moms to be a narcissist.
These people KNOW this will be the briefest of times for - what, MAYbe two or three kids? But you NEED to know people well enough to know if you're going to divert workers from the work.
HR! One more thing to stay aware of!
These people KNOW this will be the briefest of times for - what, MAYbe two or three kids? But you NEED to know people well enough to know if you're going to divert workers from the work.
HR! One more thing to stay aware of!
I brought my infant daughter to department meetings in the 80's. No one batted an eye. Walked her the 5/4 of a mile to the university in her carriage and wheeled her in fast asleep.
8
If I only had the courage to do something convenient!
13
I'm super progressive but this is so unkind and selfish. As someone who went through years of infertility , I can say I was distraught when people brought their babies to work. Work was the once space where I could do my job and not be confronted by the sadness of not having a baby. Tons and tons of people have this issue and that coworker politely admiring your beautiful daughter might be internally cringing and desperately wishing you would let people do their jobs without thinking about babies.
57
What if there is an employee who has lost a spouse, or sad that they may never marry-- does that mean no one should invite their spouse to work? It would cause painful feelings. While I was once in your position and sympathize, I think if is reasonable to imagine ourselves as part of the greater human family with all its bonds, and being at work doesn't isolate anyone from that.
14
I'm against this idea of bringing infants to work on a regular basis for a number of reasons. But seriously - you want the workplace to be a "safe place" where those struggling with infertility can be insulated from the presence of babies?!?
Yes, many people have fertility problems - as well as a wide variety of other personal struggles or issues. Infertility - as difficult and sad as it was for you - is not the only problem in this world or among any group of coworkers.
In most workplaces, people do NOT bring their children except for the rare short visit. But nearly everywhere, people display photos of their children and grandchildren and talk about them. Would you expect us all to stop that?
In what workplace could anyone possibly be protected from all reminders of children?
Yes, many people have fertility problems - as well as a wide variety of other personal struggles or issues. Infertility - as difficult and sad as it was for you - is not the only problem in this world or among any group of coworkers.
In most workplaces, people do NOT bring their children except for the rare short visit. But nearly everywhere, people display photos of their children and grandchildren and talk about them. Would you expect us all to stop that?
In what workplace could anyone possibly be protected from all reminders of children?
18
In Denmark they don't have to take the baby to work. They have great daycare and leave the office at 4. But if they do, nobody cares. The economy is booming.
BTW - Denmark is the happiest place on earth!
BTW - Denmark is the happiest place on earth!
34
This story suggests a pop movie about a small child taking over an office. I cannot believe that it has never been done. I know folk who would pay money to see such a film... perhaps several times.
5
Try doing it as a worker bee and not the queen. Good luck with that.
118
This is ridiculous. You can't bring dogs to work bc people have allergies. Same with babies.
36
people have allergies to babies? Lol
2
Yup... LOL
2
Much as I would like to think that a 6 wk old baby and the needs of an organization can coexist, my own experience (now the mother of a 23 yr old and 20 year old, f I may say, beautiful and kind sons, is that the answer is NO. Most babies do not sleep for 15 hr straight at that age. The author should not preach to other women about how she was able to integrate mothering and managing. Her situation sounds quite unique (agree with previous comment re: she's the CEO and taking advantage of her place in the hierarchy).
76
This is ridiculous. Of course no one objected, Ms. CEO. You were not the CEO when your boys were babies, and this is precisely why you didn't dare try this experiment it's them. You've proudly written this essay like you have unearthed a Mayan ruin and solved the nation's child care problems. Well, you haven't. Even white collar offices won't abide infants in the office, nor should they. Children don't belong in the office every day. As a person who has chosen to remain childless, I strongly support ample paid maternity and paternity leave. But please don't tell me I should abide children in the work place, and don't pretend children aren't a distraction.
178
Sheesh! Talk about privileged, entitled, and clueless! I adore babies, and I want them all to have as much time with their mothers (and fathers) as possible, but this woman has no idea how unrealistic this is for 99% of working people, and I use that percentage advisedly. Ah, the problems of the 1%!
72
So now, in addition to a poor wage with poor benefits, your maintenance staff gets to deal with poopy diapers. All so that Mama CEO need not miss any special moments with her little precious. But I guess that's life in the 1% when Mama CEO worked for Citibank, and Microsoft and went to Harvard and Oxford.
How selfish. Work is work; home is home. CEO or not, your baby does not belong.
55
At the end of the column the author confesses that she is a chief executive. No wonder no one told her no or complained about the baby. This brings the narcissism of parents to a new level. Your child is precious to you. He or she is to be admired for a couple of minutes by others and that is the limit of a baby in the workplace. No one wants to be disturbed by the baby wailing or the smell of the full diaper. Please do not assume that your child is not a distraction. I am certain that a lower level employee could not reschedule meetings according to their baby's schedule and convenience or be met with approval with the suggestion that their child be at the office at all. The writer was in a privileged position to do what she did and took advantage of it. There was no one who could object even if they wanted to and the baby was a distraction and inappropriately present. To assume that everyone loved this is disingenuous and naive.
127
Judy, the author tells us in the second paragraph that she is a chief executive.
10
Oh, and Judy, I don't think this woman is naive; I think she is obtuse. There's a world of difference between the two.
I am amazed at the incredible hostility of so many readers at the idea of an infant in the workplace. I am on of the very rare (apparently ) person who does not adore all dogs and dislike having them in the places I shop and am amazed at the places that have water bowls for dogs all over the main shopping center and allow dogs in bars and restaurants. This country seems to prefer dogs over babies and young children and many say they like them a lot better than humans.
1
I have several friends who own or work in re-cycling yards (aka junk yards). Let's see what they think of this wonderfully progressive idea.
Then we have the police officers...
Had enough yet?
Then we have the police officers...
Had enough yet?
21
Back seats of police cars are usually pretty roomy, plenty of room for the baby seat.
14
And when the officer arrests a suspect, where does the baby ride? Or are you joking?
4
I had a co-worker who brought her newborn to work back in the 80s. It was surprising how unobjectionable it was. She had a large basket type bed she placed at her feet under the desk. The baby was quiet, and at feeding time people would stop by for a minute or two to visit. I think it actually had a calming effect on the office. It helped that the mother didn't feel like it was any big deal.
21
You're the CEO so who is going to object? This is hardly a representative case.
The problem with children, even infants, in the workplace is that it signals to your co-workers that you're not 100% focused on your job because the most important thing in your life is 2 feet away. And imagine the chaos and distraction if your suggestion is taken to let more children accompany their parents to work?
The answer for working parents isn't a slew of babies propped on conference room tables or on factory floors. The answer is more free on-site daycare options that put your child in a safe and appropriate environment, allowing employees to focus on their adult jobs, and still giving parents close access to their children throughout the day.
The problem with children, even infants, in the workplace is that it signals to your co-workers that you're not 100% focused on your job because the most important thing in your life is 2 feet away. And imagine the chaos and distraction if your suggestion is taken to let more children accompany their parents to work?
The answer for working parents isn't a slew of babies propped on conference room tables or on factory floors. The answer is more free on-site daycare options that put your child in a safe and appropriate environment, allowing employees to focus on their adult jobs, and still giving parents close access to their children throughout the day.
97
The CEO of our ~40-employee business sometimes brings his (quiet and generally well-behaved) Labrador retriever to the office. We all pet the dog and tell the boss how much we like the dog.
We're all lying. The dog is a distraction to the CEO and to the entire office. Would we dare say anything to him? Of course not.
I'm guessing the colleagues of Ms. James feel the same way.
We're all lying. The dog is a distraction to the CEO and to the entire office. Would we dare say anything to him? Of course not.
I'm guessing the colleagues of Ms. James feel the same way.
150
But then again, that baby can't lick his privates!
2
I hate dogs in the workplace, mainly because of the sense of entitlement of those who bring them in and expect others to fawn over them.
9
I'd much rather have a dog in the office than an infant, hands down.
13
I work in higher education and, when my children were babies, worked in offices that were female-centered and informal, with a lot of student presence. I brought both of my boys to work for a few months and my co-workers were wonderfully supportive and helpful. For my second son, I hired a work-study student to play and care for him during her hours. She loved it. And, when someone was having a stressful moment, they'd come in to hold the baby for a while. Of course, bringing baby to the office only works for a few months. Eventually, I was frazzled trying to concentrate and the ringing phone would wake up my the baby just as he was starting to nap. Even after they started day care, I found my workplace to be very welcoming of children.
6
i do all of the above (meetings, networking, etc.)-except it's my dog. Haven't heard any objections yet
14
I wonder if the receptionist at the software company got 13 weeks of paid leave and was then permitted to bring her baby to work.
86
I think context matters a lot here. Due to a combination of circumstances, both personal and professional, I wound up having to bring my child to the office with me several times when she was a newborn. But I never would have considered it had she not been a really easygoing baby and had she not been a massive daytime napper. After testing during a few weekends alone in the office with her, I discovered that my desk drawer, lined with a blanket, made an effective bassinet. She loved the rocking motion, the dark (never closed the drawer entirely), the peace and quiet. In fact she preferred it to the stroller and the Bjorn.
I know people will think that that was crazy--my family included--and many commenters have pointed out situations where this would be impossible or even dangerous, but the combination of factors allowed for it.
I know people will think that that was crazy--my family included--and many commenters have pointed out situations where this would be impossible or even dangerous, but the combination of factors allowed for it.
17
No, no, no! Bad idea. No one wants to hear crying babies at work. It's bad enough that the rest of us have to put in over time to cover the work that others on maternity leave would have otherwise done. I don't want to subsidize, entertain, support, or in any way have to put up with your desire to spawn offspring. Do it on your own time; you are not saving the world with more children.
43
Back in the very early 90s my office mate, like me a research assistant on a large NIH-funded project at an urban university, returned from maternity leave when her baby was 3 months. He came to the lab on most days when she was in the office--when she was out on a project-related visit the baby went to work with his dad, the executive director of a non-profit. Yes, it was a lab staffed only by women, but no, the mother was not at the top of the hierarchy--another mother was. What started as an experiment ended up as a solution, in no small part because he was an "easy" baby. We research assistants, mostly women in our 20s, enjoyed having the wee one around--most of us had never had the experience of being around a baby for long periods of time, and he was damn cute. Furthermore, it contributed to the lab morale, and a sense of empowerment for us all as aspiring professionals and future working mothers.
19
Do not even know where to start: as a mother, the thought of bringing a 4 week-old-baby to an office environment is horrifying. Not only their immune systems are not quite there yet but they have not had their full set of vaccinations yet. Based on her position, it is not that she needed the money desperately and could not afford daycare. I am sorry but this is nothing more than another privileged woman who thinks this somehow makes her a hero. Well, it doesn't. What it makes her is a person incapable of putting her baby first when the baby needed full-time caregiving the most. A half-baked worker and half-baked mother. Pick what is more important to you and give it your all. Newborns and young babies are a full-time job that deserve full-time attention from caregivers. And your employer or board of directors are paying you for and deserve your full-time attention when at work. BTW, I guess all your subordinates will/are able to bring their babies to work too or is this another Marissa-Meyer-self-centered-only-me kind of situation?
101
Excellent point about the danger of exposing babies' weak immune systems to the workplace! Not only will the babies not have all their vaccinations yet - but some of our coworkers are not having their children vaccinated or getting flu shots themselves.
6
Ah, yes, the obvious problems of "lean-in" feminism come to the fore again. It's nice that you're the boss of a white collar firm and can do what you want, but your ideas about babies in the workplace have a real effect on those women who work in places that would not be amenable to babies. They need more than 13 weeks off to take care of their newborns, and the other parent should have more than 13 weeks off as well. This shouldn't be conditioned upon being the boss, or anything else for that matter.
142
I'm the founder of the Parenting in the Workplace Institute (mentioned in the article). In order for an organization to be listed in our baby-inclusive database, the program has to be available to employees in general, not just upper management (except for situations in which a particular employee's job responsibilities would pose physical risks for a baby). Even in those cases, though, we encourage companies to, if at all possible, temporarily reassign an employee to a position that allows them to participate in the program. We absolutely agree that paid leave should be far more widely available and that babies-at-work programs should be available to employees in general.
3
As a (non-CEO) worker of two part-time jobs, and mom to two kids, I say this is ridiculous. You couldn't just stay at home, bonding with your newborn, for maternity leave? That 6 weeks was unbearable?Instead, you brought your baby to work, not once or twice or for a few weeks, but for several months, thought it was so amazing how "supportive" everyone was, and decided to enlighten us with this brilliant and progressive idea? What a joke. Give me actual, paid maternity leave. Don't deny me promotions because of time spent caring for my newborn (luxurious life of an adjunct). And please don't expect me to work while caring for infants and managing the zillion other things going on. If you want to work, then work and keep the rest of the world out of it.
259
You're the CEO? Who is going to object to your face? Just not fair to the people under you.
124
What about the poor office dog? Did anyone ask it, its opinion?
5
God, no, please no babies at work.
61
Please don't, unless you happen to be lucky enough to work in an insanely privileged, experimental and enlightened office that suggests and encourages such things. Babies are wonderful, but they are distracting. Perhaps not because they might cry or be fussy, but because they're magnetic and you can't help but want to pay attention to them. You run he risk of alienating a lot of your coworkers this way, especially since nobody likes to tell a parent that their child is annoying or a distraction. If you happen to run your own small business or work for a one in a million office environment, go for it. Otherwise, please don't.
44
This author had an unusually quiet and sleepy child. My first baby was nothing at all like the one described here; I think I gave birth to a different species. Sleeping 15 hours a day? Unimaginable. Try 10 hours maximum, in cat naps sprinkled throughout the day. Nursing every other hour. Even when she was six weeks old, I could barely go to the bathroom; can't imagine having made it to work or bringing her along.
32
Yes!! I had two of those crazy babies. I really thought the second would be different. Nope. Forget about a quiet day at work.
For each of my children, I was so fortunate to take off five months.
A few years ago, my office mate was new to the company and had no leave or money saved up, so she returned 4 weeks after giving birth. My heart broke for her. Her body was still healing and she was an emotional wreck.
I would have gladly, with joy, shared my office with a little bundle - cries and all.
What is wrong with our society that we have mothers returning to work 4 weeks post partum? And then without their children?
A few years ago, my office mate was new to the company and had no leave or money saved up, so she returned 4 weeks after giving birth. My heart broke for her. Her body was still healing and she was an emotional wreck.
I would have gladly, with joy, shared my office with a little bundle - cries and all.
What is wrong with our society that we have mothers returning to work 4 weeks post partum? And then without their children?
48
What is wrong with would-be mothers (and fathers) saving and planning so the family finances (etc) can accommodate the mom (or dad) being home with a newborn, or toddlers for that matter? I did it and so can others. It's called personal responsibility and setting priorities. We didn't have a nickel to spare and it was difficult financially, and it set me about five years behind my age cohorts in terms of career advancement. But our house had a homemaker, our children had a fulltime parent, and eventually I caught up on all the career stuff and did very well. Like almost everything else, if you think it's so important, it's up to YOU to make it happen. Don't whine and complain that it doesn't get handed to you.
35
Geez. Every developed country besides the U.S. offers new mothers many months of paid maternity leave and reasonably priced, high care child care options. I don't think it's too much to ask.
9
J.H., personal responsibility and financial planning are always good - but for most people these days, putting off having children until the family finances will allow one spouse to stay home for a year or two - or even 6 months - may well mean waiting until it's too late. Or forever.
For most of us now, employment is far from secure, even for all of us who are responsible, hard-working, and highly skilled and qualified.
And even when couples are responsible, careful, and diligent about contraception, unplanned pregnancies happen. Not everything in life goes according to plan, does it? Then add one child with special needs or one parent's job loss or serious illness, and all the best planning means zilch.
In any case, bringing infants into work or having to leave an infant to go right back to work are both terrible choices. What we need is reasonable maternal leave and affordable or free on-site child care.
For most of us now, employment is far from secure, even for all of us who are responsible, hard-working, and highly skilled and qualified.
And even when couples are responsible, careful, and diligent about contraception, unplanned pregnancies happen. Not everything in life goes according to plan, does it? Then add one child with special needs or one parent's job loss or serious illness, and all the best planning means zilch.
In any case, bringing infants into work or having to leave an infant to go right back to work are both terrible choices. What we need is reasonable maternal leave and affordable or free on-site child care.
6
You may think it's cute, but I assure you that all your co-workers HATE you.
132
Privilege...end of story...
127
"If I’d been, for example, a cook, a doctor, a bus driver or a welder, I could never have tried it"
Please add the following: secretary, nurse, waitress, hostess, home heath aide, teacher, bank teller, store clerk, and any non "chief executive" yobs.
The author is slightly disconnected from most working women's reality.
Please add the following: secretary, nurse, waitress, hostess, home heath aide, teacher, bank teller, store clerk, and any non "chief executive" yobs.
The author is slightly disconnected from most working women's reality.
124
Or even any white collar worker who is not the boss . . . I cannot imagine the look on most partners' faces if a law firm associate suggested bringing her baby to a client meeting because the baby was not ready for the sitter.
25
Actually, secretaries, bank tellers, and teachers (and librarians, museum workers, and lots of other jobs that might not seem on the surface to lend themselves to this concept) have successfully brought their babies to work in baby-inclusive companies. Here's our database of participating companies, which includes more than 30 different industries.
https://www.babiesatwork.org/organizations
https://www.babiesatwork.org/organizations
2
This is the height of heteronormative entitlement. Nobody wants your baby at work.
49
How do you know? Sounds like at least some people did.
2
I am an office worker in a white collar job, employed in a medium size business (22 employees). I am in the sandwich generation, and there was a stretch of a few months where I brought my 3 month old to work along with my elderly mother. My mother had moderate dementia, but was not raucous. She had a support animal, a Labrador retriever, that accompanied her. My office was not that big, but we managed to make it work. I tended to family and work. Because I had so few visitors to my office, I got my work done. Worked out well for a year or so, and ended with another baby and my need to bring both babies to work. At that point, my coworkers voiced resistance.
8
I am amazed...and not in a good way...at the number of "good grief! Babies! What next!" comments. There is far too much separation in our society between children and the adult workplace, which in many cases is not the dangerous, factory-floor venue. I do agree that colleagues have a right to their own opinions and perhaps feedback - but for the most part, these comments seem to indicate a personal dislike of "children invading the workplace",l rather than substantive criticisms or personal bad experience.
14
How exactly should people substantiate their opinion that children shouldn't be in the workplace? We have all been children. Most of us have interacted with children in our adulthood. Many of us have children. That's plenty of experience for EVERYONE to draw from.
I'm sorry, but this was utterly clueless. You have no idea how the other half works.
61
This is where our culture has landed. It's bad enough that we need 40+ hours of work to afford rent (that's mother and father working in a traditional family setup), now we are going to force our children to come to our cubicles as well.
There was a time when 40 hours was enough to support a family. Sadly, as women entered the workforce and ramped up their hours, men did not ramp down their hours. I'd love to split my hours with my wife, work 20 hours and get more time with my son. One of us could be home to raise him while the other put in their 20 hours. Alas, no, instead of us working 20 and 20, or perhaps a different combination like 10 and 30, we each are forced to work 40 for a total of 80 hours that our son is without either parent.
Go Captiali$m!
There was a time when 40 hours was enough to support a family. Sadly, as women entered the workforce and ramped up their hours, men did not ramp down their hours. I'd love to split my hours with my wife, work 20 hours and get more time with my son. One of us could be home to raise him while the other put in their 20 hours. Alas, no, instead of us working 20 and 20, or perhaps a different combination like 10 and 30, we each are forced to work 40 for a total of 80 hours that our son is without either parent.
Go Captiali$m!
37
Sorry. The first sentence should have read, "It's bad enough that we need 80 hours of work to afford rent..."
I have never heard of this working unless the parent is a CEO/president or an academic. While I'm happy for the author and her experience, it's so rare and unique I'm not sure it warrants an essay, much less a movement.
Furthermore, we have so little understanding in our culture about the impacts of birth and breastfeeding on a woman's body and what postpartum recovery entails. I had a baby 8 months ago and I'm still exhausted. There is a huge range of experiences but it's really not fair to that range to assert that this is desirable, or even possible. It will only lead to unfair expectations for low- and moderate-income women to go, go, go when their bodies are heavily bleeding and repairing from either a vaginal birth or c-section. Let women rest, for chrissakes!
Furthermore, we have so little understanding in our culture about the impacts of birth and breastfeeding on a woman's body and what postpartum recovery entails. I had a baby 8 months ago and I'm still exhausted. There is a huge range of experiences but it's really not fair to that range to assert that this is desirable, or even possible. It will only lead to unfair expectations for low- and moderate-income women to go, go, go when their bodies are heavily bleeding and repairing from either a vaginal birth or c-section. Let women rest, for chrissakes!
87
We are very lucky that people still have the desire, patience and resilience to have children because many Americans and the workplace environments are very hostile to parents and their children. Many here expressed negative opinions about this experiment and somehow forgot that they too were crying babies, and that they are still crying babies because they never had the compassion of strangers and the care of a larger family in this very cold hearted country. Try it as the author says because maybe in a generation, we all could become more patient and caring for each other. Hey, the happy hour crowds at the bars are far more loud and annoying than genteel infants.
15
Actually, we would be more lucky if fewer people had children and those who did have children, had fewer of them.
The world is over-populated and we are creating more people than this fragile earth can long sustain. Worried about the rapid growth of climate change? There is one very easy solution to curb climate change. Put fewer people on the planet.
The world is over-populated and we are creating more people than this fragile earth can long sustain. Worried about the rapid growth of climate change? There is one very easy solution to curb climate change. Put fewer people on the planet.
16
It's nice that it worked out for you, but what if several people in a large office had babies at the same time? Our office has an open concept. Virtually no one has their own office. It's just too much to expect your colleagues and co-workers to put up with this. I mean, I don't have kids. Can I bring my dog? What about my husband? Or the neighbor kids? Where does it end? The truth is this: Three kids is a lot and having kids is a choice. Does America need to make the kinds of concessions and services available to new parents that other countries make? Yes, I think so. I think you should get a year of paid leave (up to a certain number of kids, let's say three) and some courtesies. But I think EVERYONE should have a sabbatical. It's not fair to others who are 100% working, while you are nursing or changing diapers. Most of us can't even grab lunch! Maybe big workplaces should have daycare services, so employees can visit their kids at lunch time. Otherwise, I think it's best for kids and colleagues if the baby is left at home.
29
Sarita: I suspect your rank within the company might have played a large role in the eventual success of your experiment. Consider this: would your colleagues have been as accommodating for a junior employee? Or to flip the situation: would you yourself have permitted a junior ranked employee to try this out before your own prior positive experience?
I view this experiment with not a little trepidation. If this becomes the norm, new mothers might be expected to show up at work with their baby earlier during the postpartum period.
I view this experiment with not a little trepidation. If this becomes the norm, new mothers might be expected to show up at work with their baby earlier during the postpartum period.
27
Thank you for this wonderful, possibility-filled article !
7
As a pediatrician and academic, I also brought my infant son in to work on many occasions. He was one of those children who cried rarely and was enthralled with watching all the faces. He was a hit, and I know that my colleagues and students never were upset about having a healthy baby around. I would not have brought him into a clinic or any environment in which he would have distracted me from my work. Others in the pediatric administration had portable cribs in their offices. On the other hand, I believe that taking an infant to work can only be accomplished in certain workplaces and with certain groups of co-workers. Most academic sites would have no issues with a sleeping or non-fussy infant.
Moreover, do not expect that every work site is open to having any distraction in the office, a lab, a store, or with clients. Bringing a baby into work also exposes the baby to potential infections. It can breed resentment among co-workers. And bringing an infant into a workplace that may be unsafe or doesn't have clean air and water is just a mistake.
Moreover, do not expect that every work site is open to having any distraction in the office, a lab, a store, or with clients. Bringing a baby into work also exposes the baby to potential infections. It can breed resentment among co-workers. And bringing an infant into a workplace that may be unsafe or doesn't have clean air and water is just a mistake.
37
I totally understand bringing your baby to work in an emergency situation, but as a regular occurrence I don't think it's a good idea. I work as an occupational therapist in 3 hospitals and am constantly on the go either seeing patients or documenting. There are productivity expectations rehab staff (as well as other hospital workers) need to meet so any time I spend not seeing patients or documenting distracts from patient care and meeting productivity standards. Hate to put it so coldly but it's true. Occasionally a co-worker who has the day off will bring her child into our office and (to me) it's totally distracting. I'm really focused on my patients but if I don't stop what I'm doing and make some type of nice comment/feign attention then me ignoring the child's presence is seen as rude (at best). The problem is the co-worker has placed me in this situation. Fortunately, it doesn't happen often.
Years ago, I used to work in finance and felt the same way. Kids don't belong in an office between 8AM - 6PM. It places co-workers in an awkward position when they're trying to get work done. If you want to bring your kid in after hours, that's a different story. But overall, I think it's self serving. What if everyone brought their kids to the office? The only reason it worked for the author is that she was the only one who did it.
Years ago, I used to work in finance and felt the same way. Kids don't belong in an office between 8AM - 6PM. It places co-workers in an awkward position when they're trying to get work done. If you want to bring your kid in after hours, that's a different story. But overall, I think it's self serving. What if everyone brought their kids to the office? The only reason it worked for the author is that she was the only one who did it.
34
8am-6pm? What happened to 9-5, "what a way to make a living?" Come on, this is why people need to bring their kids to work!
Not much more, and we'll be back to Upton Sinclair's The Jungle (including 6 hr Saturday's and the odd human in the ground meat)!
Not much more, and we'll be back to Upton Sinclair's The Jungle (including 6 hr Saturday's and the odd human in the ground meat)!
2
Totally unprofessional and an abuse of an executive position over subordinates - many of whom I suspect would rather not have the distraction of a child in the office.
84
My daughter is 11. From the age of about four weeks to 5 months she came to work with me. It was wonderful, and she still loves coming to work, helping out at the office, and has lasting relationships with her work aunties and uncles.. I wore her, and breastfed. I worked mainly at a desk and in a shared space but my coworkers set up a small side room with a glider, a mini fridge, and a small crib before I came back to work (as a surprise for me). I knew that they were excited, and I had the empathetic support of my immediate supervisor. I was covered by federal employee protections and a commitment to a family friendly workplace. I had an easy and delightful baby. For the first month I worked three days a week for about 6 hours a day, rather than leaping back in at 5/40. My husband went to PT by the time my daughter was three months old, and I was back to work FT at five months, at which time my husband took the balance of his 12 weeks of family leave at FT. He toured and selected an infant day care center near his work, which she stared at 6 months. This sort of thing can work and is a benefit to everyone except the most curmudgeonly coworkers ... but it can really only work if everyone is on-board, and if there are policies and protections that encourage gender-balanced family friendly policies in the workplace.
11
I brought my daughter to work for half-days between the ages of 2 and 5 months. I write and spend a lot of time typing. Having her with me at work those 3 months worked really well.
3
My agency cannot accomodate babies at work, which might sound harsh, but there are too many categories of work where it would be impossible to do one's job and tend to a baby: direct care workers, kitchen workers, nurses and maintenance workers, etc... Perhaps an executive could juggle both, but this would create a discriminatory policy.
Also, much as Ms. James wanted to have more time with her young daughter, she was in a much safer position than most women, in that she could safely take a leave of absence and also can afford child care. Her situation is not that of most parents.
Also, much as Ms. James wanted to have more time with her young daughter, she was in a much safer position than most women, in that she could safely take a leave of absence and also can afford child care. Her situation is not that of most parents.
11
I love this article! Babies are good for everyone, even those who might initially think they are not "comfortable" with them. Women in many other countries have been bringing their babies with them for centuries, not only because they want to, but because they have to. And the babies sleep well and feel at ease knowing their parent is near, or even holding them, as the work day goes by. It will be good for all, both economically and spiritually speaking, when men and women alike can make decisions about bringing babies to work, experiencing the joy and pleasure of the nearness of babies, and can make these decisions easily and naturally without it seeming odd or unpleasant for man or woman.
4
I would never bring my baby to work at a doctor's office. There is SO much sickness coming and going. Not just colds, but MRSA and c diff.
I have brought my step daughter (now 10) to work twice. Both times it was no problem, she colored, watched a movie, and talked briefly to my co-workers. I have seen others bring their children for individual or half days when care didn't quite cover, and it was totally fine. I think at our office, it is a don't ask, don't tell policy.
I have brought my step daughter (now 10) to work twice. Both times it was no problem, she colored, watched a movie, and talked briefly to my co-workers. I have seen others bring their children for individual or half days when care didn't quite cover, and it was totally fine. I think at our office, it is a don't ask, don't tell policy.
My wife and I took our children to work a couple times, but only when we had no alternative. I like to think I am tolerant. I like to think I am a feminist. But I confess that I agree with W.C. Fields on this one: "Never work with children or animals."
Thanks to an amazingly understanding boss, I started taking my daughter to work when she was 7 days old. There were urgent reasons that my work not be interrupted. My daughter slept most of the day in my office, and I worked in the lab right next to it, where I could hear her. By age 6 weeks, she didn't sleep so much, so I found a babysitter within a 5-minute walk. I was lucky to have an understanding boss and agreeable colleagues. She was breast-fed until age 2.5 years.
3
I had a boss who brought her elementary school aged kids to work occasionally. They were loud and active, and it was impossible to talk on the phone. When I closed the door to my office, my boss was offended. I'm convinced taking children to work is a good idea. You may not know when other find them distracting and annoying.
17
older kids are a whole different thing. I once brought my sick son, about seven years old, to my job at someone's home-based office. he spent the day mostly dozing on a sofa in another room or watching videos. nobody was bothered.
6
How do you know that no one was bothered that you brought your sick (contagious?) child to someone's home, and let him sleep on their couch, instead of taking him home? As so many others have pointed out here, people may not tell you that they are annoyed based on your position as an executive or a client, or out of courtesy. But they probably are.
Just for your future reference, parents -- your co-workers are bothered.
Just for your future reference, parents -- your co-workers are bothered.
That's even worse, to bring a sick, perhaps contagious kid, into someone's home. By "nobody was bothered," you actually mean, "nobody said they were bothered." It's not the same thing.
31
I love that this worked out so well, and in the right situations (that are described in the template policy), this can be a great tool to help professionals transition back to work after having a baby. We are losing far too many women to inflexible work environments, and this needs to evolve.
Of my 4 kids, this only would have worked with 1 of them, but I would have loved the opportunity. And although I will never benefit from such an arrangement (done having kids), I would love to work for a company that values their employees enough to allow this!
Of my 4 kids, this only would have worked with 1 of them, but I would have loved the opportunity. And although I will never benefit from such an arrangement (done having kids), I would love to work for a company that values their employees enough to allow this!
5
I've brought my children at various ages into my meetings and in my research lab/group but as a PI (professor), I had the autonomy to do that. I don't think it would work in most environments but if it could work, it should be done. I think the positives outweigh the negatives. I don't agree with the reasons given by others here that work places should remain professional, etc. Some work isn't like that, where you turn it at 5pm. My work is my science and I do that 24/7 either actively or passively. One of my children wants to be a scientist and she's the one I brought in the most, to have her exposed to the language of science at an early age, the story of what the Korbergs did resonating with me (both father and son won the Nobel prize and the grandson would be in the lab from a very young age at Stanford down the hall from me, especially since the mother worked there as well).
My wife owned a restaurant and initially the plan was that our scientist baby would stay in an office she had tucked away at the back but that actually proved a tad harder than having her with me. (My other daughter is an artist, so yeah, my kids can be what they want to be, but if they show an interest I believe they should be encouraged.)
My wife owned a restaurant and initially the plan was that our scientist baby would stay in an office she had tucked away at the back but that actually proved a tad harder than having her with me. (My other daughter is an artist, so yeah, my kids can be what they want to be, but if they show an interest I believe they should be encouraged.)
I grew up in India, and my college professor mother went back to work three weeks after she had me by C-section (!!) because 'that's when her leave ended' (!!!). While I have no memory of whether I was ever taken along to college as a baby (I think not because we moved in with my maternal grandparents for a few months), I WAS taken along many times when I was a primary-school kid who had a day off & my parents didn't. Colleges in India don't have offices - they have classrooms and something called a 'staff room', which is where I was deposited with a book or toy, told not to cause any trouble, and left to my own devices - except for approximately every half hour when some colleague of my mother's would decide she (this was a women's college, so all faculty were female) needed me to listen to the poem/short story she'd written, offer me some food she'd brought from home, quiz me about what I was up to/ my plans for when I got older, and so on. I remember those days as being a lot of fun - it was fun to listen to all these women talk about everything from politics to research to gossip - and still have warm relationships with many of these women, now in their 70s or 80s. I don't know if anyone ever took a baby - but as a kid who was taken to work, I rather enjoyed it, and think other people did too.
14
It baffles me to no end the blindness that parents display re: their babies or infants/toddlers, etc. Whether they drag them on planes or to restaurants, or in this case to the most inappropriate place imaginable- the office- they suspend their rational thinking and think the rest of us won't notice. Of course, the mothers don't hear the screams, or catcalls, or grunts, or groans, or see the relentless grabbing. They don't smell the unpleasant odors, or even have an inkling many of us do. The evolutionary blindness that nature instills in young mothers is wonderful to help get them through the day, but what about the rest of us?
39
Drag them on planes or restaurants? Do you expect parents to never travel or enjoy a family meal? I sure hope to never be seated next to as intolerant a person as yourself.
21
Who said never?! ? But when you have a child, your life changes and yes. Hate to break it to you, but having children includes having to give up/postpone/stop certain activities, some of them temporarily, others until child is self-sufficient. It is called being a parent. If that is not acceptable, then do not have a child. Even having a pet involves changes/accommodations in the guardian's life which most of them happily do because they live their pets, and you can't change/make accommodations in your life for your baby that you voluntarily brought into this world? Then parenthood might not be for you.
9
BTW, I am the mother of 2, and did not go out to eat unless I had a babysitter until my children were old enough to fully participate in the experience without disturbing other patrons and did not go on vacation trips where planes/buses where involved until they were 7 and could entertain themselves so I am definitely one of those "intolerant" people next to whom you might not want to be seated. Yep. being a parent sometimes stinks and is inconvenient but either "suck it up" or do not have children.
8
I find it inexcusable that there was no discussion of whether the father of the child would take the baby to his workplace -- or have any care-giving role at all during these early weeks. And babies do not belong in the workplace except in a child care setting, regardless of how cute everyone thinks they are. It's not only a question of fairness to those who can't afford/don't want distractions, but also to those who don't have or weren't offered the option of bringing their babies to work. Is this writer completely oblivious to how she comes off? Is the employer?
29
My infant daughter came with me to work from 7wks until my contract ended when she was 13wks. While it was preferable to sending her to daycare full time and while my colleagues (a lot of Russian and Polish grandmas!) loved her, it ultimately wasn't the right choice for us.
In our case it depended a lot on the baby, she is not a quiet or easy going kid and never was, but it also had to do with the fact that I was getting about 2 hours of sleep a night, caring for an infant around the clock, and trying to do my full-time job as well as I had done it before.
I'm glad we did it, and I would even consider doing it again in other circumstances. I know people with jobs similar to mine that successfully worked with a quiet infant most of the day, but for us it wasn't great. This is the kind of thing you can't really plan for- you don't know your child's temperament, what your labor and recovery will be like, how you will sleep etc until you meet the baby!
In our case it depended a lot on the baby, she is not a quiet or easy going kid and never was, but it also had to do with the fact that I was getting about 2 hours of sleep a night, caring for an infant around the clock, and trying to do my full-time job as well as I had done it before.
I'm glad we did it, and I would even consider doing it again in other circumstances. I know people with jobs similar to mine that successfully worked with a quiet infant most of the day, but for us it wasn't great. This is the kind of thing you can't really plan for- you don't know your child's temperament, what your labor and recovery will be like, how you will sleep etc until you meet the baby!
5
I am a strongly feminist physician with two children yet still felt uncomfortable with this essay. When one is the boss (CEO of a company) one can inflict one's baby on one's employees. I think we need to fight for the right to take paid leave after maternity for an adequate time rather than promote women with privilege being able to wear their charming infants in a sling while their underlings have to pretend to think this is terrific. And women without privilege having no chance at all for that option.
I did this 14 years ago, for about 4 months. There were no problems, and it just wasn't a big deal. I was a self-employed consultant.
4
Unfortunately executives and regular employees don't get the same or equal benefits and latitude when it comes to personal issues. Most executives would laugh at, or even terminate, a regular employee who brought their kid into the office, even under emergency situations. Personally I'm okay with it, no skin off my nose and I like kids; but let's not pretend this isn't the indulgence and entitlement of a chief executive talking.
38
I had a co-worker who never brought her baby to work but needed privacy several times a day to pump her breasts so she could keep her on mother's milk while she was in day care. That doesn't sound like much of an inconvenience but her desk was in the same room as mine, and the copy machine. To be kept away from our work so that she could 'let down' and keep her baby fed led to quite a bit of resentment among our staff. She soon left to take another, more 'mom friendly' position, but that didn't work out for her either. I don't know what the solution is, but I think new moms need to consider the ramifications for an entire office when making these decisions.
20
I student taught for someone who had to pump several times/day. Against regulations I was left alone with the children on multiple occasions while she pumped. I was scared something would go wrong on my watch, but I was also supportive of her desire to continue breastfeeding after her maternity leave was over. It all worked out but there was slight risk involved.
4
Seems like you're making a mountain out of a molehill. What do you propose as a solution?
This is where our culture has landed. It's bad enough that we need 80+ hours of work to afford rent (that's mother and father working in a traditional family setup), now we are going to force our children to come to our cubicles as well.
There was a time when 40 hours was enough to support a family. Sadly, as women entered the workforce and ramped up their hours, men did not ramp down their hours. I'd love to split my hours with my wife, work 20 hours and get more time with my son. One of us could be home to raise him while the other put in their 20 hours. Alas, no, instead of us working 20 and 20, or perhaps a different combination like 10 and 30, we each are forced to work 40 for a total of 80 hours that our son is without either parent.
Go Captiali$m!
There was a time when 40 hours was enough to support a family. Sadly, as women entered the workforce and ramped up their hours, men did not ramp down their hours. I'd love to split my hours with my wife, work 20 hours and get more time with my son. One of us could be home to raise him while the other put in their 20 hours. Alas, no, instead of us working 20 and 20, or perhaps a different combination like 10 and 30, we each are forced to work 40 for a total of 80 hours that our son is without either parent.
Go Captiali$m!
One thing to consider: your own comment about "...I didn't have a manager to tell me no." Being the boss means you backed everyone else in the office into the corner of having to be supportive and positive, regardless if they truly felt otherwise. While it's nice to hear your baby was quiet and well-behaved, naturally one cannot assume all babies or young children would be the same (not to mention, "well behaved" is often a matter of opinion, since parents can be more forgiving of their own child's behavior than other adults might be).
Our company has "take your child to work day". It's come to be a non-working day for the parents that participate. They watch movies together, tour the office, play video games, have a clown come in, eat lunch, then leave early. Those that don't watch their children let them run around distracting the rest of the office...who are trying to get their own work done, as well as the work of the parents who brought their kids.
Our company has "take your child to work day". It's come to be a non-working day for the parents that participate. They watch movies together, tour the office, play video games, have a clown come in, eat lunch, then leave early. Those that don't watch their children let them run around distracting the rest of the office...who are trying to get their own work done, as well as the work of the parents who brought their kids.
I think it is incredible NYT would publish this . The ridiculous level of unbridled privilege of this article demonstrates the gaping divide between the average american and the privileged elite. Clearly the author simply doesn't get it. I'm imagining the look on my boss' face if I suggested bringing my child to work. As CEO of a company, I challenge you to find a way to make all your employees workdays fit the demands of a child. I am relieved they published the company she heads, so I can be sure to never apply there.
53
Why not? I suppose an attache case could double as a diaper bag. And if during the course of the day, natural calls, someone can just light up a cigar.
Don't be surprised if baby's first word is..arbitrage!
Don't be surprised if baby's first word is..arbitrage!
5
The work place should be safe for babies and have play areas an sitters. Babies need to be with their parents and v.v. Enough with pumping milk!
When I was in grad school 35 years ago, two secretaries brought their babies to work. No trouble. Just delight.
When I was in grad school 35 years ago, two secretaries brought their babies to work. No trouble. Just delight.
9
Love this but also felt conflicted. I actually had to check your professional website bio to confirm this essay wasn't a deep dive into White privilege, which it's not. It can't be, right, because you are of Indian heritage? So something seems a little off here to me, but I do applaud the whole-life viewpoint, the contrarian thinking, and the goodwill. And also reading words by a proud mama in the NYT feels great. Good for you, Sarita!
2
This essay still demonstrates a supreme amount of privilege and disregard (or just complete oblivion) for the feeling of subordinate co-workers.
Also, not the first piece by a mother, or on motherhood, in the NYT. Not by a long shot.
Also, not the first piece by a mother, or on motherhood, in the NYT. Not by a long shot.
17
If you do this, people who enjoy babies will tell you they're happy you brought yours to work. If you're a manager or a chief executive, some people who are ambivalent or dislike babies will tell you they're happy you brought your baby to work. The people made uncomfortable, those who are distracted, or those who are otherwise extremely distressed, of whom there will be many, will say nothing. You can significantly degrade the quality of life of those around you and at the end of the day still go home having heard only positive comments.
If you're set on this path and you don't want to be quite as selfish, at least don't bring the baby to meetings where participants are put on the spot to either make a scene by leaving or to to grin and bear what for them may be an awful experience.
If you're set on this path and you don't want to be quite as selfish, at least don't bring the baby to meetings where participants are put on the spot to either make a scene by leaving or to to grin and bear what for them may be an awful experience.
69
Bravo.
10
Growing up in a environment like that is certainly going to give this kid a leg up on getting into any college it wants now. Almost a genetic connection.
So what happens when multiple women in a company give birth around the same time? Everyone brings their babies to work and the office becomes a nursery? Bad idea. Either return to work or take a proper maternity leave. Babies have no business being in an office on a regular basis nor do they belong at evening networking events. That's why we have childcare.
43
What is a proper maternity leave, Mrs S? The law provides for very little. Do you mean quit working?
4
She stated that her company offered paid leave. So she had the option of staying home.
Apparently the correct amount of maternity or paternity leave is none, which is what the author's employees are going to think. They will be too terrified to take any given their boss's example.
16
I've seen office day care, and it works very well. I suppose it would work even better to spend some time during the day.
It may not fit with past office culture, but it certainly fits with past American culture. The kids worked on the farms, and helped parents with craft work at an early age, and apprenticed.
Children as part of life is an old idea, as well as a new idea. It just isn't a 1950's idea.
It may not fit with past office culture, but it certainly fits with past American culture. The kids worked on the farms, and helped parents with craft work at an early age, and apprenticed.
Children as part of life is an old idea, as well as a new idea. It just isn't a 1950's idea.
4
Yes yes yes! We have this program at work (the state of Arizona) and it is not abused. The parameters are clear: moms or dads can bring a baby to work for the first six months. You cannot ask coworkers for help, although coworkers can volunteer. There are breastfeeding rooms on each floor. On the baby's six month birthday, he/she "retires" and we often have a small party.
This simple program does the following:
1. It offers support to parents when they need it most
2. It is a nice financial benefit by saving day care expenses for six months
3. It lets the mom or dad spend time with this child at such a young age
4. It makes the employee more dedicated to the agency. Such support is rare.
5. And it makes the workplace happier! We have some great babies in our building and it is so fun to see how they are, and what's new. Retirement parties are a kick for a six month old. (No, literally. The kid is often kicking and laughing with us.)
I haven't used this program, but I really appreciate how progressive it is. Thankful to the state of Arizona for participating!
This simple program does the following:
1. It offers support to parents when they need it most
2. It is a nice financial benefit by saving day care expenses for six months
3. It lets the mom or dad spend time with this child at such a young age
4. It makes the employee more dedicated to the agency. Such support is rare.
5. And it makes the workplace happier! We have some great babies in our building and it is so fun to see how they are, and what's new. Retirement parties are a kick for a six month old. (No, literally. The kid is often kicking and laughing with us.)
I haven't used this program, but I really appreciate how progressive it is. Thankful to the state of Arizona for participating!
161
My oldest baby is almost 35. I was self employed. I had a variety of strategies. Sometimes baby and sitter came with me to work. Sometimes I worked at home both with and without a sitter. Sometimes I would go home to nurse. Sometimes, I pumped.
Life is complicated. Each person should do what works for her.
Life is complicated. Each person should do what works for her.
42
Very nice! But Eastman Chemical Company has a policy of no visitors under 12 years old--no exceptions. I can understand this, working in Research in a chemical company, but, obviously, the policy does not recognize the complexity of different work environments and employee needs. The legal department probably and the male-dominant management have some reckoning to do with God, I think.
2
There may be some conditions where this could work, but don't forget that what might appear to be your co-workers acceptance could just be politeness, or, depending on the parent's position in the office, deference, both of which can lead to resentment. I speak as a co-worker of someone who has been bringing their baby to the office for more than a year now. Its just plain distracting when the baby cries while you're trying to concentrate. Bring the baby in when there are short-term childcare issues? Sure. Make the baby a virtual employee? No.
243
It is important for there to be very clear guidelines and rules in place for this concept to be successful. Most organizations with long-established baby programs have detailed, written policies with clear provisions on things like a room with a closing door that the parent is expected to take a baby to if they become fussy in a space with other workers. When parents know the expectations, in most cases they are extremely responsive to their babies' needs and respond to the slightest initial sounds of distress (before they get to full-blown crying), resulting in happy, quiet babies who aren't disruptive to the work environment. That being said, for those rare occasions in which a baby has a health problem that results in them crying more than the typical workplace baby, or a parent isn't responsive to their child's needs in a timely manner, the organization needs to be willing to step in and make it clear that repeated disruptions to the business aren't sustainable or acceptable. Most babies-at-work policies have provisions that, in those cases, the company retains the right to have the parent make other arrangements for the baby's care.
I love it! Glad this worked for you. I had a boss once who desperately needed help from his right hand woman so he built her a nursery to bring her baby to work. I appreciate ingenuity and out-of-the-box thinking.
55
I remember taking an anthropology course that examined South American tribes where babies and children were always included in social and work life. Because the kids were brought up in that environment from day one they demonstrated better self-control and manners than first world children typically do. People in those cultures couldn't conceive of leaving a baby at home to go to work.
Babies brains develop very rapidly in those first few months. A lot of it is very sensory motor oriented (How do eyes work? Are these my toes?) but I can't help that early social exposure can only help. And as the author suggested, caring for an infant can pull a group together and enhance team cohesion. It's not going to work in every circumstance but I see no reason to have an automatic aversion to babies at work.
Babies brains develop very rapidly in those first few months. A lot of it is very sensory motor oriented (How do eyes work? Are these my toes?) but I can't help that early social exposure can only help. And as the author suggested, caring for an infant can pull a group together and enhance team cohesion. It's not going to work in every circumstance but I see no reason to have an automatic aversion to babies at work.
66
Baby-inclusive companies have seen this firsthand--most babies very quickly adapt to the social environment of the workplace, and they *love* the social interaction. Executives in companies that have been doing this for many years have commented to us how socially attuned the older children are who came to the office as babies, which makes sense--they're exposed to social cues from many people for numerous hours each day at a critical point in their development, so they're learning a tremendous amount about how social dynamics work.
1
In many cultures babies and mom are left in a form of isolation for at least 30 days if not longer. Why? Because mom is recovering - still bleeding and often in discomfort and recovery from her natural childbirth. Additionally, baby has no immune system. There are many cultural traditions, like genital mutilation and smearing wounds with infectious concoctions. We know better now. A very young baby should not only not be in an office, but they shouldn't be in institutional day care centers either. We need extended maternity leave similar to European countries for the welfare of mothers and infants.
Unfortunately, national paid maternity leave is extremely unlikely to happen in the near future, although some progress has been made in several states. This offers an option for those who find it useful for their own situation.
No way! I needed a filling done some thirty years ago. The dentist had her new son in a basinette in the room. He began screeching while she was inserting the filling. The dentist stopped to change him leaving me with my mouth open. She did finish the filling but I switched dentists.
If I am paying for you for a service I deserve your full attention. If you are a mother with a baby you need to give it your full attention or leave it at childcare. Business and babies don't mix.
If I am paying for you for a service I deserve your full attention. If you are a mother with a baby you need to give it your full attention or leave it at childcare. Business and babies don't mix.
53
"Of course, I’m a chief executive; I’m answerable to my board but didn’t have a manager to tell me no." Yes, you are in quite a privileged position. You also work at a tiny company. No one you work with is bothered by a crying baby (or is afraid to tell you?). What a sweet arrangement. If you work in a small retail store or organization and everyone is on board with the idea, that's wonderful. When you look at the list of company's in the Parenting in the Workplace Institute, the vast majority are very small except for the various departments in Kansas and North Dakota. This idea takes on a whole new dimension when you get to companies where you are dealing with the feelings and work styles of hundreds or thousands of people and babies with wildly different personalities. And, how do you handle complaints given the power structures in traditional organizations? I wish this country would give both parents more paid leave and/or work from home arrangements.
23
I am sick to death of people thinking it is charming to bring babies, toddlers, cats and dogs to work. I am there to work, not smell or hear small mammals doing what comes naturally.
63
It will obviously not work for everyone, but if it does - go for it! As the author writes, she's an executive and her solution isn't for everyone and I would most likely prefer subsidised daycare or babysitters, but if it works, why not encourage it?
42
Yes! Obviously this solution isn't for everybody, but it is for some people, so we should embrace it -among others.- The problem is that everybody has one single idea of what a Perfect solution would look like, but everybody's solution is different, so after all the quibbling we just end up with the same crappy status quo, which doesn't work for anyone (childless people like me included, since insufficient childcare/planned leave options + illness = parent calling out and other people having to take on the work). Babies aren't going away, and we also aren't about to exile parents from the workforce, either, so we need to deal with that and get creative and flexible.
1
Because the rest of us have work to do?
7
Oh for the love of god, most mothers are barely getting any sleep and aren't able to look presentable, let alone tote a baby to work and be productive. Let's start with paid maternity leave-- this is not the battle to fight.
327
My organization (mentioned in the article) supports the efforts of MomsRising and others who are working hard for paid leave. I wish comprehensive paid parental leave was on the table in the near future, but while there has been progress in a few individual states, it doesn't appear to be viable nationally anytime soon given the current administration's stated priorities. There are many mothers (and fathers) for whom the cost of child care is so high that it barely makes sense for them to continue working--even when they desperately need the income. Babies-at-work programs just offer another option for keeping babies and parents together.
1
Better than inflicting dogs on a work environment. Many suffer silently because one is not supposed to mind being licked and sniffed.
13
a luxury for the professional class. what about women who work in manual labor, on their feet, in retail, in factories -- where are the accommodations for their babies?
20
Yeah, let's see some peon admin assistant or clerk bring their baby to work. I doubt the author would think that's so great. Those of us that took our work seriously, kept our families out of it. Every woman I worked with from the top on down had daycare to deal with or, if they had money, nannies or sitters. No one took their baby to work, that would have been seen as unprofessional and an imposition on co-workers (not everyone thinks your baby is wonderful). It also tells people that you are incapable of separating family from work. So maybe you need to chose one or the other - and consider yourself lucky you have a choice, most women don't.
40
Although the author sounds quite responsible, I suffered through too many "Take our daughters to work" days to not believe that a good number of progeny are going to be handed off, for longer or shorter periods to others. Had a number of bosses bring daughter to work and then turn daughter over to me, with the order "find something for her to do, she wants to work." Wracking my brain, finally falling back on photocopying. Can only imagine Boss with infant, desperate to take Important Phone Call, but with fussy baby, "please, please, it'll just take a minute."
24
Just awful. Nobody wants you to bring your baby to work! Have a sense of decorum/professionalism even if no one has the guts to tell you that this is as inappropriate as it gets.
41
Do non-CEO mothers get to bring their babies to work? If so, much better. Don't be a Marissa Mayer.
We should also recognize that babies like this are adored partly because there aren't many of them. If you had 10 babies in an office floor, your colleagues may start to be more annoyed (right or wrongly) than when there was just one to marvel over.
We should also recognize that babies like this are adored partly because there aren't many of them. If you had 10 babies in an office floor, your colleagues may start to be more annoyed (right or wrongly) than when there was just one to marvel over.
24
10 babies is called workplace based childcare.
7
This is not so much about babies and the workplace but about power and privilege.
47
Self-centered and unprofessional. Does it occur to you that others do find this a nuisance and inappropriate, but do not say so because of your high position at work and the fact that you do not have a supervisor?
I once worked in an office where the boss decided to bring her baby to work --- and give him his own office with a nanny. I had to make phone calls to members of Congress with a screaming baby in the background, and when the baby was old enough to walk, he got into everything and changed the atmosphere totally from a professional one to an embarrassingly unprofessional one.
And needless to say, now and then, we --- especially the women --- were simply expected to "help," as is inevitable with a baby running around and a boss that is also trying to get work done.
Very inconsiderate, entirely self-absorbed, and yet another example of the weird Mommy Culture that the new generation has created where every single thing and person must revolve around you and your baby --- including a company full of employees.
I once worked in an office where the boss decided to bring her baby to work --- and give him his own office with a nanny. I had to make phone calls to members of Congress with a screaming baby in the background, and when the baby was old enough to walk, he got into everything and changed the atmosphere totally from a professional one to an embarrassingly unprofessional one.
And needless to say, now and then, we --- especially the women --- were simply expected to "help," as is inevitable with a baby running around and a boss that is also trying to get work done.
Very inconsiderate, entirely self-absorbed, and yet another example of the weird Mommy Culture that the new generation has created where every single thing and person must revolve around you and your baby --- including a company full of employees.
81
I worked for a home based business where the owner's teenage son had mental health issues and walked around in his boxers shouting and having arguments with his mother. I'll take a baby over that any day.
7
False dichotomy.
6
Great place to pick up germs too. No...really...I'm serious.
They say that kids raised on farms are the least likely to develop allergies late in life and develop great immune systems and let's face it, most offices are zoos...which are kinda like farms.
They say that kids raised on farms are the least likely to develop allergies late in life and develop great immune systems and let's face it, most offices are zoos...which are kinda like farms.
4
Is this a joke? Bringing babies to work? Babies who scream, and cry, and whine? As if it already isn't hard enough to get work done in an office, and yet this guest columnist is advocating bringing Babies! into the office environment to what? Make it even harder for anyone to get any work done? No. Just No. I'm sure the author's daughter is lovely (at least from her perspective), but she does not belong in an office.
163
Most people in baby-inclusive companies also assumed that these programs would never work, until they saw what a formal, structured program actually looks like in practice. Babies tend to be far calmer and happier than people expect, due in large part to the social environment of the workplace, and coworkers often don't want the babies to leave when they "graduate" from a program.
3
Total distraction. Enough said.
Just because it can be done does not mean it should. Dragging your children around from one file cabinet to another is no way for a child to grow up.
14
It's one thing for CEOs to do it... quite another for the rest of us.
227
Did your staff really think its so great? Did your clients really think it was great? Or is it too politically incorrect to say otherwise theses days? And what does one say to the chief executive? More middle class problems.
210
I had had terrible horrible no good very bad babies. They did not sleep for more than a few minutes during the day and screamed most of the time they were awake. So I can't imagine it. But you clearly had a good baby so why not. I would love it if a coworker brought a cooperative baby like yours to the office for the short period you had her there.
I will also note that I had excellent four year olds one of whom came to my office for the day when I had a desperate situation involving a court ordered deadline and a sick au pair. Under strict instructions ( come get me ONLY if it's an emergency) she sat in the office next to mine coloring, playing with play- doh and reading, among other things, the book that inspired the first sentence of this post with nary a peep or interruption.
I will also note that I had excellent four year olds one of whom came to my office for the day when I had a desperate situation involving a court ordered deadline and a sick au pair. Under strict instructions ( come get me ONLY if it's an emergency) she sat in the office next to mine coloring, playing with play- doh and reading, among other things, the book that inspired the first sentence of this post with nary a peep or interruption.
20
Written like a chief executive of a college admissions software company.
I have no further questions, your honor.
I have no further questions, your honor.
203
I love babies, I've had babies, I've cried as I've left my babies to go back to work. Yet, I cringed as I read this. Having my infant accompany me to work would be very distracting to me - and perhaps to my co-workers. It takes very special types of environments, co-workers and babies- simultaneously - for this to work and most of us are not so lucky to have all three at the same time.
Work is great, babies are FANTASTIC - but not in the same room!
Work is great, babies are FANTASTIC - but not in the same room!
176
I love kids, I loved my babies. But I don't much care to be around other people's babies where they don't belong. I have little tolerance for them and I am inclined to think the mother is arrogant and oblivious to the burden her baby brings to the workplace.
275
Whoa. To paraphrase SFPD Inspector "Dirty Harry" Callahan -- if the job gets done right, who cares?
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0070355/trivia?item=qt0348507
IMHO, what is more nerve-wracking is watching goofy adults with funny-looking dogs walk into fresh produce sections. There's a public health disaster, waiting to happen.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0070355/trivia?item=qt0348507
IMHO, what is more nerve-wracking is watching goofy adults with funny-looking dogs walk into fresh produce sections. There's a public health disaster, waiting to happen.
I raised two children and worked full time. I would never consider bringing a baby to work. It's unprofessional and inconsiderate to colleagues. What's next; women bringing their needy husbands to work so that they can serve them their lunches? Work is work and home is home. Casual day has indeed gone too far.
199
I'm not sure which is worse - your (hypothetically humorous?) assumption that husbands are like infants or that it's their wives' jobs to serve them food. You're certainly entitled to your opinions on babies in the workplace, but the remainder of your comment demonstrates a casual sexism that makes me question the roots of your objections.
5
I took my baby to work 36 years ago. I had requested leave for the same amount of time as a man who had major surgery would get and got it. After those early weeks, I put him in a basket, and brought him in. I was a college professor, and he slept right through class (I've heard the jokes and made the jokes
29
My comment was cut off--here's the rest of it:
I nursed him for a year, but had an office in which to do it. I recognize the privileged position I was in. I couldn't have pulled it off on a factory floor, and that's unfortunate. I, too, thought it right and natural, and I'm still surprised that it never became the norm. I hope that changes with you.
I nursed him for a year, but had an office in which to do it. I recognize the privileged position I was in. I couldn't have pulled it off on a factory floor, and that's unfortunate. I, too, thought it right and natural, and I'm still surprised that it never became the norm. I hope that changes with you.
4
As long as you're not a lumberjack, I say go for it.
37
When daughter was 4 months old, she was highly portable. I was a young assistant professor in a tenure track position - complete with new class preps, grant seeking, and the political intrigues that are unique to higher education. My chairman - Paul Levy - gave me the space I needed to survived. He was also completely supportive of my baby being anywhere I needed to be.
Although he has passed away, I still thank him everyday for his support. I also try to 'pay it forward' giving time and space to my young protégés. if we are going to have the expertise we need in the future. It makes me sad that the workplace is getting less not more family friendly.
Although he has passed away, I still thank him everyday for his support. I also try to 'pay it forward' giving time and space to my young protégés. if we are going to have the expertise we need in the future. It makes me sad that the workplace is getting less not more family friendly.
53
As a professor, I am sure you are aware of the overpopulation problem? We don't need to have "family friendly workplaces." Workplaces are not for family. They are for WORK.
15
atb,
Wow. Just, wow.
Wow. Just, wow.
7
Why does it always have to be about you?
Years ago, as a new mother, I was a financial consultant at Morgan Stanley. My mother drove me to client meetings when they were near her in Philly. She would watch my baby while I reviewed investment portfolios with my clients. One such gentleman—a high-level person at Dupont in Delaware—made a kind offer to exit his office so I could breastfeed my daughter.
Kudos to him and to those in your uplifting story!
Kudos to him and to those in your uplifting story!
42
Nice that the upper classes have white collar workplaces where a baby would not be physically endangered. Why the worst thing that could happen is a co-worker feigning enjoying the added company!
100
I'll write this from the periphery. Although now retired, I worked in administration in a college where one dean, one day, allowed his secretary to bring in her infant for a few weeks. We couldn't believe it. how could she manage that crazy chaotic office with a baby next to her desk? She wasn't an outstanding worker herself, the baby wasn't angelic, and the staff in general wasn't supportive. but after a few days we realized that a baby that young doesn't cry all that much and only needs mom nearby for food and comfort. The baby got held a lot but other that she just fit into the office routine. A few years later I think her sister came as well. It's a nice alternative to long maternity leaves.
59
For whom?
7
I am an principal architect in my office, have 3 children.
It is not only the babies who can be brought to work...
One day I had a meeting with clients and consultants on the job site. My nanny got sick, the back up nanny was on vacation, husband was out of town and school friends were out of town...(our families live many hours by plane from us)...
I brought all 3 kids to the meeting (after calling the clients and letting them know of the situation)... It went fine because clients were enlightened and understood but others would not.
It is not only the babies who can be brought to work...
One day I had a meeting with clients and consultants on the job site. My nanny got sick, the back up nanny was on vacation, husband was out of town and school friends were out of town...(our families live many hours by plane from us)...
I brought all 3 kids to the meeting (after calling the clients and letting them know of the situation)... It went fine because clients were enlightened and understood but others would not.
42
I worked with an pediatric orthopaedic surgeon who brought her baby to outpatient clinics. Patients loved it. She had a nanny who took over when she was in the OR.
24
I went to an orthopedic practice that had an elderly Golden Retriever who acted as Chief Greeter, escorting patients from the elevator doors to the reception window. Job done, he would lie down on his bed to wait for his next client. I was charmed (I like dogs) but wondered about those who don't or are allergic.
6
Um, yeah, no. Please do not take your baby to work.
212
Except for you are the "chief executive." Does any of her employees take a baby to the company? Or, have mothers been too old for her company?
1
Working on Wall Street, Christmas Eve day is traditionally bring the kids to work day. It's only a half day on the markets, and it's a good chance for staff to better get to know one another and their families including kids! That day was always a hit with me.
22