Babies in the Workplace

   One mother who brought her baby to work at a software company said that she thinks that "babies have a very calming and warming impact on people in general." As she put it, "People don't want to be energetically negative around a baby--it's sacreligious."

   Maria Rodriguez of Vanguard Communications explained that:

   [Having babies around] is a stress reliever
   for people. Stuff happens--there's pressure
   and deadlines. If clients are not happy with
   something, it can be really, really stressful.
   But if you can walk down the hall and pick
   up a baby, you feel better instantaneously.
   I can't explain it, but it's just remarkable. If
   you're having a bad day--I know other
   people have ways they deal with stress; they
   take a walk or something. But all you need
   to do at Vanguard is walk down the hall to a
   baby and you're fine.

Higher Productivity

Parents involved in the baby-to-work programs at these companies discovered creative ways to get their work done in spite of adding "caring for a baby" to their to-do list. As new parents know, once most people have a child, they quickly learn how to get more done during a baby's 20-minute nap than they ever did during an hour or more of their pre-baby days. Carolyn Gable said that the saying, "If you want something done, give it to a busy person," described the parents with babies at New Age. Deborah Driskill of CDG believes that bringing babies actually increased the productivity of the parents because "[they] aren't worrying about the baby since the baby is right there. They're focused and less distracted." She also said that the parents "became very organized and efficient because they scheduled their work around the baby's schedule."