Babies in the Workplace

Companies that publicize their baby programs or in which babies are in view of the public find that the reactions of customers and clients are overwhelmingly positive and the companies frequently receive glowing compliments on their program. A baby program generally increases people's respect for the company's dedication to its employees. Also, since parent and coworker morale tends to be so much higher with a baby program, and a program often results in people feeling more dedicated to helping to further the interests of the company, the quality of customer service tends to improve.

For all of the benefits that baby programs offer for a business, the costs to implement and maintain a program are incredibly low. The primary expense incurred by some companies is to install diaper changing tables in restrooms (which cost less than $200 each), and some companies have their lawyers approve the language in their legal waiver forms. Aside from these minor costs, the only direct cost for a business to implement a program is the time spent determining the specific provisions of a program. The Parenting in the Workplace Institute provides a free, downloadable, detailed template policy (with legal waiver forms) to expedite this process. The book How to Start a Babies-at-Work Program goes into detail on how to streamline the process of implementing a program.