Babies in the Workplace

policy" and that the policy helped The Booksource "get and keep employees."

   Melanie Lastra said that when Schools Financial first started its program:

   [Schools] really didn't know what the public
   would think of it. This is a financial
   institution--it's a different atmosphere than,
   say, Starbucks. We have a reputation of
   being professional. But [Schools] thought of
   [the baby program] as a major
   breakthrough--to say, "this is what we really
   want to do for employees."

   It turned out, Melanie said, that, "The overwhelming response from customers was positive. They were thrilled and loved it; we got so many comments."

   Debbie Butler mentioned that for six consecutive years, Valley Credit Union has been recognized as one of the '50 Best Places to Work in Silicon Valley.' She

said that one of the reasons it receives this honor is because of its baby-to-work program. She said, "People who read that article are very impressed by the program."
For retail or service industries, customers are likely to frequent businesses with baby policies just for the chance to see and play with babies when they go shopping or to the bank or another business. Also, people with children will feel more comfortable with a business that allows employees to bring babies to work.

These customers will feel as though the business supports their families as well as the families of its employees, and thus they will feel more comfortable coming to the business with their own kids. If a business that caters to walk-in customers doesn't make it easy for parents to come in with their children, those parents are much less likely to come back. Even seemingly little things like not having a diaper