Ok, I need to ask. Poll: Kids at Work

[anonymouseliza]

This brought to you by the clinic coordinator whose 20 month old son is here with her today, just because it's a slow day.  Wondering where other people stand.

(I personally have brought my dd by to visit a handful of times, and once when we had a childcare and work emergency collide - ie, I'd taken the day off to stay home, but then an urgent think happened at work that I had to be present to deal with.)

[tina515]

I would ONLY be ok with it in an emergency or just because they came for a visit. There's someone in another department that brings his kids all. the. time. And they are loud, and disruptive. We also have a dog-friendly policy, and if the dogs come near them they FREAK OUT. But the dogs are here more often, don't bother anyone, and no one knows when the kids are coming, so we can't plan accordingly to have the dogs not present.

[PaperRing]

I said emergency or visit and those should be rare. I wouldn't be cool with a child hanging out all day. This isn't a daycare. If there are no other options though,I get it. I love when kids visit for a few minutes, but that's it. As for your coworker, she may be slow, but others may not be and a child is a distraction.

[mosy]

I think that for many people (especially from an employer's POV) the answer would be a resounding NO, but I voted SS because I think it depends largely on the job, work environment, and age of the kids. DS comes to work with me every day, but it's my H's business and we only have 2 employees, so it's not usually disruptive to them or their ability to do their job. Aside from the occasional super busy day when I'm simultaneously stretched in all directions, it doesn't interfere with my ability to do my job, either. There have definitely been times when I've forgotten work things because I've been distracted by parenting responsibilities, though.

[anonymouseliza]

Yeah, my DD visits are when we are going somewhere else and we swing by, say hi, and get on our way.

I know things are pretty relaxed here, but all the dept heads are out of the office, and I've not been here long enough to know if she's trying to get away with something or this is totes cool. She's definitely not getting any work done.

The receptionist's son is dropped off here after school every day from what I can tell. He's older though, and does sit quietly until she can leave. Just sits in the corner doing homework. In principle, I side-eye, but with that kid in particular it wouldn't bother me (or hasn't yet).

Way back in the day in my old job, we had dog days, where people brought their dogs to work. I only did it once, because he's a bit barky and excitable around other dogs and it stressed me out and I felt like I didn't get anything done. My boss at the time once brought her new puppy for a month while there was no boss around. Talk about distracting.

[13liza]

I think it's okay once in a while, but a previous co-worker brought her young daughter fairly often. She was well behaved, but co worker would take a long lunch with her and spend quite a bit of time finding things to keep her occupied.

[physiomeg]

I say a firm no, but I work in a busy hospital. Kids don't belong here unless they are sick and admitted or visiting a patient.

[ellewills618]

Apr 17, 2015 15:51:28 GMT -5 PaperRing said:

I said emergency or visit and those should be rare. I wouldn't be cool with a child hanging out all day. This isn't a daycare. If there are no other options though,I get it. I love when kids visit for a few minutes, but that's it. As for your coworker, she may be slow, but others may not be and a child is a distraction.

This.  I can't imagine it would be much fun for the kid either (unless you work in a toy store).  

[spidermonkeymama]

The only time my DD came to work with me was when it was after hours and I ran a support group-- i had no other options for childcare after hours sometimes so she sat or played in a corner while the group did their thing. I would never have been able to bring her during the workday nor would it have been appropriate.

I think it all depends on the job but I'm going to say that it will be a less effective day regardless-- for everyone around.

[chuggingwater]

Yes, our work is child friendly in the event of an emergency of needing to do paperwork. Ds2 has been up there a number of times due to daycare issues, and ds1 was up there before school when he was in preschool. Client care cannot happen when children are present. Obviously.

[bella423]

I work in a school, so I see absolutely no problem with a child coming to work in an emergency situation. It isn't allowed and I've had to leave a classroom full of kids to go home for my son. That being said, my principal constantly has her non school age kid in her office if he's sick. Really? How is that OK?

ETA- tina515 where do you work?! Bring your dog to work, I need that in my life.

[hollandmama]

I said sometimes but I guess if the kiddo is the quiet type who'll play silently for hours on end I wouldn't mind him/her all the time... however, those kids are rare LOL my kid would start climbing on everyone's chairs and banging on everyone's keyboard he's such an angel

[evenkeeled]

While we allow it on the odd occasion I am not a fan of it. If your kid is older, quiet, and can sit still and keep themselves busy, fine. But if they are young, loud, overly mobile, and distracting please don't.

And I don't get the "show your kid off" deal. Especially at work, and being female, people expect you to coo over them. And I honestly just want to work. I have no interest in focusing on non-work related items while here (I would go home then).

I promise you, my kid will not be in the office being paraded around the office. Maybe because I do have some personal blurred lines at work (both my father and my husband work for the company), and in the position that I am, I am very quiet about my personal life.

Honestly, I am a little thrown when I have subordinates asking about the weekend (that part is fine) but two today asked what did I do? I wouldn't think to ask anyone outside of if they had a good weekend, what exactly did they do. That is just odd and prying to me. But I am weird and do take that into consideration.