Should Companies Have A “Bring Your Kid To Work Day?”
Especially for parents who are working on-site with no yaya, allowing them to bring their kids to work might do a lot better for both parents and kids.
It’s not uncommon for one parent, usually the mom, to leave their career to raise the baby. Especially in their formative years (e.g. newborn and toddler), most moms (unless they’re entrepreneurs) end up doing all the parenting while dads take a lion’s share of the financial burden. The frustration then begins to build as both start to miss one life or the other: Dad misses staying at home after a taxing work day and Mom misses the mental challenges work brings when left alone with the kids for most of the day.
While some parents usually ask the grandparents to watch over their bundle of joy, others don’t have that kind of privilege especially if the latter don’t have the energy to do so. So what some parents do is they bring their kids to work for a day.
The cons of bringing kids to work
A work environment is often fast-paced, silent, and tense. Everyone’s working hard to meet their KPIs for the month, lest they want their superiors to scream at them. So it’s no surprise some parents are reluctant to bring their kids, especially when their kids seemingly ask things from them all the time. Plus, our co-workers are not our yayas. They have their work cut out for them too!
Some may even see work as an “escape” from their parenting life — it’s a section of their life that’s devoted solely to their benefit. A form of self-care, some would like to believe.
At the same time, not everyone has the patience for kids. Some are sensitive to sounds; others just prefer working in silence. And that’s okay!
Others don’t have the facilities for it. When there are too many important documents (e.g. bank statements, legal contracts, etc.), these are too important to risk having a toddler scribble on with a big red crayon.
The pros of bringing kids to work
But with cons, there are also pros. The benefits of having a “bring your kid to work” day affect three people. For a company, it shows that they’re looking after their employees and making sure they can do their work without worrying about the kids. After all, an anxious employee often means they’ll make mistakes. Small ones at first but, eventually, they’ll become big ones when they start thinking too hard.
Some parents also see bringing their kids to work as a “teachable” moment for their kids. Especially for those who grew up in the service industry, parents who had their own parents bring them to work learned to appreciate hard work.
“I remember not liking it [helping out in the restaurant as a kid] either, but those experiences would help develop who I am today,” President and Chief Operating Officer of FooDee Global Concepts Eric Dee explains, sharing his experience of being involved with restaurant operations as a child.
Even artists and parents Hamill Buyco and Sarah de Veyra-Buyco see the benefit of bringing their daughter to their work and the exhibits.
“We want her to rather think that work is part of our lives beyond just tasks to accomplish, it is a gift that ennobles us,” Hamill shares, regarding his work for the Un|Tethered exhibit.
“We also want her to realize the importance of hard work and the dignity that comes with doing your work well,” Sarah adds.
It may not be for everyone but, it’s worth a shot.
Although bringing kids to work may seem unprofessional in some spaces, it may be the only option some working parents have. Daycare, playschool, a nanny — these still cost money. While some can comfortably spare some money, others don’t have much leeway. It’s something for company owners to consider; after all, no one wants to force a parent to choose between making a life for their child and their child.
More about working parents?
How to Handle Clingy Kids as Working Parents
Camille Co: “If You’re a Working Momma, Know That You’re Not a Bad Parent.”
The Life, Times, and Wisdom Nuggets from Working Moms to Close Mother’s Month
