Babies in the Workplace

Kelly Rawe of Schools Financial pointed out that, "When credit union members see that the company takes care of employees at that level, they're impressed with the credit union." The customers of these businesses will also extrapolate--at least subconsciously--that if the companies care enough about their employees to let them bring their babies to work, it is likely that the employees are well taken care of in other ways, too. They know that this will make the employees much more sensitive to customer needs and more willing to put energy into taking good care of them.

As our society has become more mobile and more people are able to work from
home, our standards are changing regarding how much time we expect to be able to spend with our families. Companies that can legitimately say they are family-friendly have a significant edge in attracting customers. Willie Jones said that the babies in his bookstore created a

"warm, fuzzy atmosphere," and he said that "women wouldn't cross the threshold of the store without making a fuss. Working mothers, especially, liked the idea of being rung up by someone with a baby." He said he got "all kinds of reinforcement that we had made a good decision and that people appreciated it."

Alicia Lionberger said that she frequently would open the door at Foris Winery with her baby in her arms. She found that having her baby, "broke the ice. It warmed people up and seemed to give the company more of a home feel."

Wendy Zanotelli said that when UNCLE Credit Union's facilities person returned to work with her baby, she transferred to the call center during the baby's time at work so as not to have to travel between branches with her child. Wendy explained that credit union members often hear baby sounds over the phone and ask if the