Babies in the Workplace - Business Benefits

In addition, parents generally become so loyal and grateful to the company for the opportunity to stay with their babies that their long-term productivity is much higher. All of the more than 170 companies that have baby programs have found that the benefits of allowing babies far outweigh any minimal productivity issues during a baby's time at work. To minimize or eliminate any potential resentment issues on the part of coworkers, it is critical, however, that a company specify that work still needs to be completed. The only companies that have experienced difficulties related to work not being effectively accomplished are those without clear rules in place to guide employee behavior; this is why it is strongly recommended that a formal policy be established to prevent problems and make expectations clear. Productivity issues are also minimized when parents follow their babies' cues and respond immediately to the first sounds of distress, thus preventing the babies from getting to the point of full-blown crying and taking longer to soothe.

Having babies at work in public view (such as at credit union teller windows or customer areas in retail stores) results in customers coming to a business more often, which often directly translates to increased profits for the business. Companies have found that people will frequently come to the establishment simply to see if the company really does have babies at work or to visit babies they have gotten to know--and in retail stores, people frequently make purchases in the course of these baby visits.