Comments on: CNN Video: Babies on the Job http://thismommygig.org/2008/05/19/cnn-video-babies-on-the-job/ Tue, 06 Jan 2009 05:26:44 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: Stuart http://thismommygig.org/2008/05/19/cnn-video-babies-on-the-job/#comment-117 Stuart Mon, 19 May 2008 20:06:33 +0000 http://thismommygig.org/?p=70#comment-117 Three things: 1. I think this is a good idea, but it is wholly dependent on the type of work that the mother is involved in. I believe some jobs might lend themselves to this situation better than others. The vid refers to paralegals and that is one that woudl work - school teacher or police officer might not. 2. Because infant childcare is so hard to obtain and so expensive, this might be a good way to keep moms in the workforce while assisting in the transition to motherhood/workhood. 3. Let's be real - men have been bringing their babies to work for years - it's just that when men bring their babies, they get kept in the parking garage and not in the office! So in effect, men do have daycare! SJC Three things:

1. I think this is a good idea, but it is wholly dependent on the type of work that the mother is involved in. I believe some jobs might lend themselves to this situation better than others. The vid refers to paralegals and that is one that woudl work - school teacher or police officer might not.

2. Because infant childcare is so hard to obtain and so expensive, this might be a good way to keep moms in the workforce while assisting in the transition to motherhood/workhood.

3. Let’s be real - men have been bringing their babies to work for years - it’s just that when men bring their babies, they get kept in the parking garage and not in the office! So in effect, men do have daycare!

SJC

]]> By: Kate http://thismommygig.org/2008/05/19/cnn-video-babies-on-the-job/#comment-116 Kate Mon, 19 May 2008 18:54:45 +0000 http://thismommygig.org/?p=70#comment-116 Wow, thanks for the conversation! I'll state my FULL position on this now: 1) I can't work as effectively anytime I have my children in the same room and sometimes even when they're in the same house - when I work at home I usually have my kids at daycare, however 2) my kids aren't infants anymore and infancy is when this decision is usually made. If I would have had the choice of an in-office daycare when my kids were tiny and still nursing, I would have been much more likely to work at that time. The age (and temperment) of the children DOES matter. I promise you that with my kids at the ages they are (1 and 2.5), NO boss would welcome them into an office! They'd do just fine, however, in a daycare located within the same building where I could visit them during breaks. I'll be dealing with the "children at work" situation a LOT this summer as I try to work at home with often not enough day care coverage - that will mean lots of late nights because I can't devote my attention to work when my kids are home (and I shouldn't!). That will be changing soon as I begin working full-time from home in the fall and will have full-time daycare, meaning that the 2 worlds won't overlap quite so much. Thanks for the contributions! T Wow, thanks for the conversation! I’ll state my FULL position on this now:
1) I can’t work as effectively anytime I have my children in the same room and sometimes even when they’re in the same house - when I work at home I usually have my kids at daycare,
however
2) my kids aren’t infants anymore and infancy is when this decision is usually made. If I would have had the choice of an in-office daycare when my kids were tiny and still nursing, I would have been much more likely to work at that time. The age (and temperment) of the children DOES matter. I promise you that with my kids at the ages they are (1 and 2.5), NO boss would welcome them into an office! They’d do just fine, however, in a daycare located within the same building where I could visit them during breaks.

I’ll be dealing with the “children at work” situation a LOT this summer as I try to work at home with often not enough day care coverage - that will mean lots of late nights because I can’t devote my attention to work when my kids are home (and I shouldn’t!). That will be changing soon as I begin working full-time from home in the fall and will have full-time daycare, meaning that the 2 worlds won’t overlap quite so much.

Thanks for the contributions!

T

]]> By: Kelly http://thismommygig.org/2008/05/19/cnn-video-babies-on-the-job/#comment-115 Kelly Mon, 19 May 2008 18:46:55 +0000 http://thismommygig.org/?p=70#comment-115 I took all three of my kids to work. I own my own business and I did not have the luxury of a "real" maternity leave. I had to be back at work nearly immediately. So, with my first, I packed her up and took her with - it was wonderful. Since that time, all of the mothers at my office have, at some point, had their children at my office. I don't mind. I agree with the boss in the video - I think it's an incentive for employees to stick around. Clients don't mind for the most part - in fact, many of my clients are happy to see the kids because law firms are generally such high pressure, stoic places to be. I think most professionals are smart enough to know when it works and when it doesn't. You and your children must be respectful of your co-workers and the fact that you're at work. You set up boundaries - we have certain areas (like computers, phones and copy machines) that are absolutely "hands off." You understand that your child will not be on his or her best behavior all of the time - kids are predictably unpredictable - and you have a back up plan. On the video, they showed some toddlers at the work place. That's a tough age - especially for every day with mommy at work. There's a need for quality time. But babies? Absolutely! They sleep, they eat, they hang out with mommy. What could be better? Kellys last blog post..<a href="http://feeds.b5media.com/~r/b5media/Taxgirl/~3/293659009/" rel="nofollow">Qualifications for Senator: 30 Yrs Old, US Citizen for 9 Yrs, State Residency (Understanding of Tax Code Not Required)</a> I took all three of my kids to work. I own my own business and I did not have the luxury of a “real” maternity leave. I had to be back at work nearly immediately. So, with my first, I packed her up and took her with - it was wonderful.
Since that time, all of the mothers at my office have, at some point, had their children at my office. I don’t mind. I agree with the boss in the video - I think it’s an incentive for employees to stick around.
Clients don’t mind for the most part - in fact, many of my clients are happy to see the kids because law firms are generally such high pressure, stoic places to be.
I think most professionals are smart enough to know when it works and when it doesn’t. You and your children must be respectful of your co-workers and the fact that you’re at work. You set up boundaries - we have certain areas (like computers, phones and copy machines) that are absolutely “hands off.” You understand that your child will not be on his or her best behavior all of the time - kids are predictably unpredictable - and you have a back up plan.
On the video, they showed some toddlers at the work place. That’s a tough age - especially for every day with mommy at work. There’s a need for quality time. But babies? Absolutely! They sleep, they eat, they hang out with mommy. What could be better?

Kellys last blog post..Qualifications for Senator: 30 Yrs Old, US Citizen for 9 Yrs, State Residency (Understanding of Tax Code Not Required)

]]> By: Becki http://thismommygig.org/2008/05/19/cnn-video-babies-on-the-job/#comment-114 Becki Mon, 19 May 2008 18:41:52 +0000 http://thismommygig.org/?p=70#comment-114 I didn't have the chance to watch the video yet, but given the discussion, I do have an opinion. I have an 18 month old and an 8 week old and I can not imagine being effective at the office with either or both of them around. I wish I could say otherwise, and maybe it makes me a bad mother, but to me, work is work and nights/weekends is family time. That simple. To me anyway. I didn’t have the chance to watch the video yet, but given the discussion, I do have an opinion. I have an 18 month old and an 8 week old and I can not imagine being effective at the office with either or both of them around. I wish I could say otherwise, and maybe it makes me a bad mother, but to me, work is work and nights/weekends is family time. That simple. To me anyway.

]]> By: Cody http://thismommygig.org/2008/05/19/cnn-video-babies-on-the-job/#comment-113 Cody Mon, 19 May 2008 18:41:19 +0000 http://thismommygig.org/?p=70#comment-113 Jessica, Lauren, thank you now I am not the jerk guy who went with a no on this!! I am a Dad, first and foremost and I am uncomfortable when my 8 and 11 year olds are here to long, at the office. It is a bad idea. Codys last blog post..<a href="http://www.codytalks.com/2008/05/recap-of-last-few-days.html" rel="nofollow">Recap of last few days.</a> Jessica, Lauren, thank you now I am not the jerk guy who went with a no on this!!

I am a Dad, first and foremost and I am uncomfortable when my 8 and 11 year olds are here to long, at the office. It is a bad idea.

Codys last blog post..Recap of last few days.

]]> By: mlong http://thismommygig.org/2008/05/19/cnn-video-babies-on-the-job/#comment-112 mlong Mon, 19 May 2008 18:28:59 +0000 http://thismommygig.org/?p=70#comment-112 funny thing....at local sushi joint kids are all over the place. VERY young infants near kitchen, behind sushi bar. I've always felt uncomfortable w/ that by my guess is the moms/dads of these kids had no choice. funny thing….at local sushi joint kids are all over the place. VERY young infants near kitchen, behind sushi bar. I’ve always felt uncomfortable w/ that by my guess is the moms/dads of these kids had no choice.

]]> By: mlong http://thismommygig.org/2008/05/19/cnn-video-babies-on-the-job/#comment-111 mlong Mon, 19 May 2008 18:27:34 +0000 http://thismommygig.org/?p=70#comment-111 ha!!! So, what about working moms WHO WANT a break from kids. Sometimes that's part of the reason why moms go back to work. All moms are different. Whatever works for your family is what I say. If you did bring kids to work "the office" would have to be supportive. If I had a crying baby down the hall from me right now I honestly would be unhappy and that would reflect in my work. ha!!! So, what about working moms WHO WANT a break from kids. Sometimes that’s part of the reason why moms go back to work. All moms are different. Whatever works for your family is what I say.

If you did bring kids to work “the office” would have to be supportive. If I had a crying baby down the hall from me right now I honestly would be unhappy and that would reflect in my work.

]]> By: Lauren Vargas http://thismommygig.org/2008/05/19/cnn-video-babies-on-the-job/#comment-110 Lauren Vargas Mon, 19 May 2008 18:27:11 +0000 http://thismommygig.org/?p=70#comment-110 I completely disagree with bringing babies to work. Having childcare in the facility is one thing, but to have the child with your own office is absurd. Working from home is different. Working in a corporate environment with a baby is not acceptable or professional. It is an infringement on worker's rights. Also, what about the development and socialization skills of the child? Lauren Vargass last blog post..<a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/CommunicatorsAnonymous/~3/283886100/now-is-gone-but.html" rel="nofollow">Now is gone, but we're only just beginning!</a> I completely disagree with bringing babies to work. Having childcare in the facility is one thing, but to have the child with your own office is absurd. Working from home is different. Working in a corporate environment with a baby is not acceptable or professional. It is an infringement on worker’s rights. Also, what about the development and socialization skills of the child?

Lauren Vargass last blog post..Now is gone, but we’re only just beginning!

]]> By: Jessica http://thismommygig.org/2008/05/19/cnn-video-babies-on-the-job/#comment-109 Jessica Mon, 19 May 2008 18:26:55 +0000 http://thismommygig.org/?p=70#comment-109 My first thought was this would be a great concept. I am always fantasizing about going back to work full-time in an office - I miss the adult interaction and the fast pace. But I couldn't give up the quality time I get with toddler. After some further pondering, I don't think this would be realistic. I think in the long run I'd feel resentment from co-workers and would be more stressed than need be. The situation I have now with freelancing works fine for the time being. Do I make the same salary I could command in an office atmosphere? I should say not yet. I think we'll see more and more ways for moms to add value to the corporate world while being hands-own "present" parents. My first thought was this would be a great concept. I am always fantasizing about going back to work full-time in an office - I miss the adult interaction and the fast pace. But I couldn’t give up the quality time I get with toddler.
After some further pondering, I don’t think this would be realistic. I think in the long run I’d feel resentment from co-workers and would be more stressed than need be. The situation I have now with freelancing works fine for the time being. Do I make the same salary I could command in an office atmosphere? I should say not yet. I think we’ll see more and more ways for moms to add value to the corporate world while being hands-own “present” parents.

]]> By: Aaron Strout http://thismommygig.org/2008/05/19/cnn-video-babies-on-the-job/#comment-108 Aaron Strout Mon, 19 May 2008 18:26:43 +0000 http://thismommygig.org/?p=70#comment-108 Kate - interesting concept. Admittedly, I'm an open minded guy so of course I'd be willing to give this a whirl. If both sides can be respectful of the working arrangement, I believe allowing children in the workplace could be a win/win. Obviously, if the child was screaming all the time (I have three so I know just how loud children can be), that might be a challenge. BTW, I ABSOLUTELY think that CNN should allow you to embed their video (with proper attribution of course). Why wouldn't they want additional eyeballs seeing their ads and content? Best, Aaron | @astrout Kate - interesting concept. Admittedly, I’m an open minded guy so of course I’d be willing to give this a whirl. If both sides can be respectful of the working arrangement, I believe allowing children in the workplace could be a win/win. Obviously, if the child was screaming all the time (I have three so I know just how loud children can be), that might be a challenge.

BTW, I ABSOLUTELY think that CNN should allow you to embed their video (with proper attribution of course). Why wouldn’t they want additional eyeballs seeing their ads and content?

Best,
Aaron | @astrout

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