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when babies go to work

did you know?

More than 130 companies have implemented infants-at-work programs, including credit unions, consulting firms, stores, private schools, and law offices.

wise words we heard

Rather than staying stuck in that tired “parent versus worker” mentality, we need to recognize “good parent” equals “good worker.”

While there are different options for managing the needs of a new baby as a working parent—taking a leave of absence, switching to contract work, job sharing, and others—sometimes the best option is the simple one: let the baby come to work with the parent for six to eight months. Today formal babies-at-work programs are popping up and—to the delight of scores of new parents—working well. Mothers and fathers have successfully brought their babies to workplaces ranging from cubicles to retail environments and to companies with as few as three employees to more than 3,000. The Parenting in the Workplace Institute offers resources on how to make a formal babies-at-work program successful for all—worker, business, and baby.

These programs are entirely different from employer-supported infant-care options such as onsite daycare. They allow parents to perform their regular jobs while “wearing,” feeding, and watching over the new baby.

Advice for Employers

Take advantage of the agreements already in use or create your own rules of engagement. Spelling out concrete terms and provisions for bringing an infant to work—and having both parties sign and agree to the terms—greatly increases the chance of success.
Set standards of eligibility. Make the age of baby, demeanor of the baby, and performance of the worker prerequisites for participation.
Provide appropriate privacy. For the privacy of the parent and the consideration of officemates, set up appropriate spaces for feeding and changing and a retreat spot if baby’s having a tough moment.

Advice for Workers

Remember that coworkers are not babysitters. Don’t anticipate that everyone will want to have guardian time over your little one, but do have one volunteer in place who can step in for bathroom breaks.
Use common sense. If you or your baby are sick, don’t go to work. And remember, if you run out for coffee, baby goes too.

Resources

Download a PDF flier about Babies at Work to share with friends, post in a common area at work or put up on your fridge. Once you open this file, you can save it to your computer to send it as an email or print it out to post a physical copy.

Babies at Work (Color) Babies at Work (Black and White)

blogging on when babies go to work

“Snowtober” Highlights the Importance of Family-Friendly Workplace Policies

Submitted by Michelle Noehren on Mon, 2011-11-07 05:00

Not that I needed another reason to be grateful for many of the workplace benefits my current employer provides but I can’t help but be incredibly thankful that during Connecticut’s “snowtober” as it’s being called, my employer has allowed several of her employees the ability to work from home, be flexible with our work hours and has even said we can bring our children into the office if need be.

If you haven’t heard, Connecticut (and surrounding states), got hit hard by a snow storm right before Halloween. Most of the state has been without power for 7 days now, and our neighborhoods look like a tornado blew through and knocked all the trees (and power lines) down. Considering it’s hovering around 20-30 degrees at night, the fact that we have no heat in our home means I’m camped out at my parents’ house, who fortunately do have power and heat. I’m even more fortunate that I’m allowed to work remotely until power is restored in my area.

My National Work and Family Month Flashback

Submitted by Kristin Maschka on Tue, 2011-10-25 04:00

Every October, National Work and Family Month gives me flashbacks.

When I became pregnant, I was a manager at a high-tech company. My job was at least fifty hours a week and, given a recent merger, would now include coast-to-coast travel. With my husband working crazy hours as a new associate at a law firm, we knew something had to give.

No problem, I’m a valued employee. I’ll just propose a part-time schedule for myself. So I did my homework and put together a proposal to go part-time based purely on business reasons. Doing my best to hide my queasy stomach, I flew to the East Coast and met with my new boss. I pointed out the advantages of having me part-time on the West Coast and hiring someone else part-time on the East Coast: lower travel costs, someone available in person in both locations, and the ability to hire two people with complementary skill sets and experience for the same money.

Support PIWI’s IndieGoGo Project to Bring Babies to Work!

when babies go to work

Submitted by Carla Moquin on Tue, 2011-06-07 04:00

More than 150 companies have discovered that enforced separation of parents from their newborns when they return to work is no longer necessary. These organizations have hosted an astonishing 1,800 babies over the years and have seen consistent benefits from allowing babies at work, including skyrocketing morale, increased teamwork, higher retention rates, and extremely loyal employees and clients.

The Parenting in the Workplace Institute (PIWI) has been locating and researching baby-inclusive organizations for the past five years. We have assisted more than 20 organizations to start successful babies-at-work programs, including Hot Studio, an experience design company; HometownQuotes, which provides insurance quotes, and W.S. Badger Company, a manufacturer of organic body care products.

A Wish List for Moms & Moms-to-be

Submitted on Wed, 2011-03-23 04:00

Co-Authored by Michelle Noehren & Michelle Pompei

We’ve been advocates for women’s rights for a while and while we have been big supporters of advocating for working moms in particular, nothing really prepared us for what life would be like as we each started our own families. The inequities faced by moms and moms-to-be have only become more glaring and our drive and passion to support moms is stronger than ever.

We’re two Michelles at different points in our motherhood experiences. Michelle Noehren is expecting her first baby in May of this year while Michelle Pompei had her son Phineas this past fall and is enjoying life with her new little family. We’ve brainstormed our own comprehensive wish-list for moms and moms-to-be in the United States.

Wish List for Moms-to-be

By Michelle Noehren

1. Workplace Flexibility

Let’s answer this call!

when babies go to work

Submitted by Ashley Boyd on Fri, 2011-01-21 05:00

Bravo, Surgeon General Regina Benjamin! Yesterday, the nation’s top doctor had the courage to say simply and starkly that mothers who breastfeed their babies need more support. In the “Call to Action to Support Breastfeeding,” the Surgeon General challenged all sectors of our society to support mothers who choose to breastfeed their babies.

“Many barriers exist for mothers who want to breastfeed. They shouldn’t have to go it alone. Whether you’re a clinician, a family member, a friend, or an employer, you can play an important part in helping mothers who want to breastfeed.” — Surgeon General Dr. Benjamin

As evidence for the need for more support, the Surgeon General noted that while 75% percent of babies are breastfed after birth, only 13% are exclusively breastfed up until 6 months as recommended. She also notes that the rates are particularly low among African-American infants.

Give the Gift of a Custom-Fit Workplace

Submitted by Joan Blades on Thu, 2010-12-23 05:00

This holiday season as we think of peace on earth and good will towards all, I’m thinking of how to translate this sentiment into a culture of good workplaces all year long. My New Year’s resolution is to help spark a new workplace norm: “Everyone deserves a job that fits,” and the corollary, “Any employer that neglects to offer employees work that fits will hurt their own bottom line.”

Flexible work, virtual work, non-linear career paths, even babies at work can all be part of Custom-Fit Workplaces, and if you want to learn more, they’re all covered in the book, The Custom-Fit Workplace: Choose When, Where, and How to Work and Boost Your Bottom Line, which I wrote with Nanette Fondas.

In fact, this holiday season, you can give the gift of The Custom-Fit Workplace and help out MomsRising at the same time… All royalties from sales of this book go to MomsRising! Click here to get the book now!

WOMEN in Management: Why Progress Has Stalled

Submitted by Nanette Fondas on Wed, 2010-10-27 04:00

A recent Government Accounting Office report found that the number of women managers increased only 1 percent between 2000 and 2007, from 39 to 40 percent. Women’s progress into management has stalled despite their equal representation in the workforce and their majority in colleges and universities.

Why such a small increase? As we observe National Work & Family Month, the acronym WOMEN reminds us of the barriers still to overcome.

Balancing on One Foot?

Submitted by Joan Blades on Mon, 2010-10-25 04:00

We moms start to learn from that first day a new baby arrives how to work faster, smarter, better. I, for one, often feel like the character in Dr. Seuss’s Cat in the Hat, balanced on one foot, with several plates twirling in the air so that I can meet my responsibilities both at home and at work.

We don’t always have to be balancing on only one foot though. As co-founder of MomsRising, I’m happy to share that I’ve been hearing about quite a few successful new workplace practices for fitting work and life together–and which allow us to be balanced with two feet planted firmly on the ground. More and more businesses are starting to “get it” that moms, dads, and all workers have a lot of plates in the air and can successfully manage work and life when companies update their workplace practices to meet the needs of a modern workforce.

Babies in… Parliament?

when babies go to work

Submitted by Katie Bethell on Fri, 2010-10-01 04:00

Licia Ronzulli, a member of the European Union's Parliament from Italy, with her baby.

Licia Ronzulli, a member of the European Union’s Parliament from Italy, sat poised and focused in her parliamentary seat. Her right hand raised in a vote, her left hand turning a page on her desk, and wrapped around her body, a newborn baby asleep in a sling.

I’m a new mom too, and even though I work in a completely supportive environment, becoming a mom made me terrified for my career. For as many women as are now in the workplace, there are still relatively few successful models for new moms who want to keep their careers going. We hear about these supermoms, but they’re not usually represented in our media.

Help Create a Babies-at-Work World

when babies go to work

Submitted on Tue, 2010-08-31 04:00

The Parenting in the Workplace Institute (PIWI) has a vision of a world in which interacting with babies is just part of a regular day at the office. For nearly 150 confirmed businesses and more than 1,600 babies, this world is already a vivid and enchanting reality. Will you help our Institute and MomsRising to bring this reality to thousands of other businesses and millions of other families?