I was excited, to say the least, when I came across an article about a real breakthrough for working moms in the office. Apparently, there’s a new push for allowing moms to bring their babies to work – and not just to be placed in a daycare. These babies play in their mom’s office, sit on her lap while she checks email, and even join in on meetings.

 According to the Parenting in the Workplace Institute, over 70 companies nationwide have instituted programs that allow babies to accompany their mothers to work, and it’s not just isolated to one or two cases. At the Arizona Department of Health Services, there are 50 babies in the office, allowed to come every day until they are 6 months old. The program works for fathers as well, and allows parents to bond with their babies and avoid the costs, financial and otherwise, of putting their newborns in daycare. 

 

Of course there are those who think this is distracting, counter-productive, or simply just inappropriate. But the companies involved and the mothers who participate all agree that, as long as there are guidelines about proper behavior and work is still getting done, it’s not a problem at all. In fact, these programs have been beneficial to companies who would otherwise be losing out on the new mom workforce. Employers have found, furthermore, that not only do programs like these entice mothers to stay on after their babies are born, but they generally improve morale and increase, rather than decrease, productivity. Not to mention that it allows moms the unique opportunity to actually balance work and family.

 

Today’s moms are not shy about demanding better policies when it comes to their children, and this is one important first step to resolving the issue many working mothers have. It seems like every day more and more businesses are realizing how valuable it is to have moms in the workforce - and it’s about time. 

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