Babies in the workplace.

Yes absolutely to workplace creches etc. Bringing the baby to work is no answer I am afraid and those bringing the baby to work will not be men. It's just another way of ensuring women do double the work.

Galaxy

Yes it's generally for very rare generally middle class professions. Does nothing to tackle the fundamental issues around childcare, the role of women in relation to childcare etc.

Just bringing babies to work won't do enough; but workplace creches and shared care with fathers would make a huge difference, which is what I was saying.

I wouldn't be able to push a hoist with an 18 stone person in it, around a small bedroom with a baby present.

Can be heard in the background - autocorrect went nuts

I am constantly in meetings where kids, babies, dogs, cats can be heardin hearing background - they brighten up our day

Sometimes, parents have to interrupt the meeting to get something under control in their home

I take for granted how understanding people are and how tolerant they are.

I once went to a restaurant and a waitress had her daughter help her chores - it was so cute and no customer complained.

I never said it shouldn't happen.
Just that for certain roles (lower status, service jobs?) it will never work.

Yes it's generally for very rare generally middle class professions. Does nothing to tackle the fundamental issues around childcare, the role of women in relation to childcare etc.

Yeah, but a step forward for the ones who could do it would be a step in the right direction, surely?

Are you saying that unless something benefits everyone it shouldn't happen? There are a lot of 'perks' or working practices that don't apply to everyone, but nobody suggests that they shouldn't apply to those who can benefit.

It's totally unworkable for plenty of job roles, so I don't see it as a huge step forward for womrn.
Only some women.

'. . . would there be a hierarchy where cleaners couldn’t but managers would be favoured?
Almost certainly. That's what usually happens, and it's very unfair.

One baby wouldn’t be a problem in most workplaces but I’ve worked in some offices where 90% of the workforce were parents of babies and toddlers at any given time…imagine all of them bringing an infant in at the same time!

Doesn’t really work does it? Or would there be a hierarchy where cleaners couldn’t but managers would be favoured?

Some jobs could be done with a baby there on an occasional basis; but on the whole it's probably not possible for many parents - as GagaJo says, a new baby would usually be fine, but older ones would be a distraction and would get in the way after a short period of time. It's not fair to a baby to expect them to be quiet and out of the way, either.

I agree with those who say that both parents have a responsibility to find childcare, and also that workplaces should provide creches. Somewhere the size of the HoC should definitely have one, and smaller employers could team up with others in the area so that the aim should be for all parents to have creche facilities within a mile or so of their workplace. That wouldn't work in rural areas, but thought should be given to that, too.

As has been said, in a lot of jobs there are many times when there is no need to be on the premises (and voting in the HoC is one of them). I think that people should all be able to work from home if their job allows it, and there should be no detriment to the employee so long as they fulfil the demands of the role. Benchmarks against which to measure this can easily be drawn up before the change to the contract, so that both parties are happy with it. There are many MPs who hardly ever turn up to the HoC (mine is one of them), so picking up on the attendance of parents seems a bit 'deliberate'.

A combination of working at home, creches and legislation to help fathers to take a part in the organisation childcare would go a long way to help women to stay in the workplace. I don't think anyone is suggesting that parents (of either sex) have babies with them during all office hours.

I don't see the link between taking in babies and taking in ironing or potatoes. I very much doubt that one would lead to the other. .

eazybee

You cannot work properly with a baby there; you don't have babies in schoolrooms, hospitals, offices, laboratories, factories etc. There is a creche at the HoP, and many many child minding services available; this is not a hostile action towards women but a practical one with care for the baby being of primary concern.

Actually, eazybee, when my daughter was in hospital and my DGS was 6 weeks old, I took him to school with me. Year 7 were enchanted with him and I have gorgeous photos of them clustered around him. Management weren't overjoyed, but there was no supply available and I made do.

It wouldn't have been a long-term solution, but in the short term, it worked out.

But Stella Creasy worked perfectly well when she had her baby with her. A baby that small is best being with its mother.
I don't think anyone is going to start bringing toddlers in.

taking in ironing to work? what because she has a vagina that is what she would do?
seriously>>>?

I can take my teenagers to work if I need too. One is autistic and not safe at home alone. Babies have also been in the workplace.

It's fantastic, do not see a problem with it. Bout time women were given more credit as working mothers. It costs us nothing.

You cannot work properly with a baby there; you don't have babies in schoolrooms, hospitals, offices, laboratories, factories etc. There is a creche at the HoP, and many many child minding services available; this is not a hostile action towards women but a practical one with care for the baby being of primary concern.

It's not so much the tiny babies which are the problem. Baby cries, latches on, shuts up. It's the older baby, the one who's teething and grizzly, the ten month old who wants to be played with. How can a mother give a serious speech on prison reform or taxation or coastal defence or some such with a squirming offspring on her hip and, even if she can concentrate, the distraction will be considerable to other members of the house - especially if said offspring suddenly goes red and still and holds its breath.

Several MPs worked from home during the pandemic. Much better.

The university that DD works at has a creche I believe but it is extortionately expensive. Having the baby with would have been impossible because of the dangerous substances she works with. Hence I took over until he went to school.

GagaJo

For heavens sake. This is the 21st century. People procreate. Why should women have to take the hit of being out of their career? A baby is very portable (toddlers less so). Not always silent, no, but neither are most work places.

Just saying 'If you don't want to look after babies, don't have them.' is draconian. Many, many jobs allow us to work from home now. Those families won't be using nurseries/child minders.

The world of the modern family is not the one we remember. New solutions are needed (or old, bring back creches!).

Just so Gagajo. And technology exists to allow MP's to vote from home but it isn't being used. If it could be made watertight then the need to bring a baby to the HOC would disappear.
The HOC needs to modernise its working practices.

For heavens sake. This is the 21st century. People procreate. Why should women have to take the hit of being out of their career? A baby is very portable (toddlers less so). Not always silent, no, but neither are most work places.

Just saying 'If you don't want to look after babies, don't have them.' is draconian. Many, many jobs allow us to work from home now. Those families won't be using nurseries/child minders.

The world of the modern family is not the one we remember. New solutions are needed (or old, bring back creches!).

Hithere, when people take time out to breast feed and see to a fretful baby, as happens, someone else carries the load probably in a job they are already under pressure with. If the customer doesn’t get proper service you lose the business. That’s just how it is. It has got nothing to do with not liking children, that silly. A child shouldn’t be in the workplace but a safe place being cared for, not sitting in a sling or in a basket under a table.

And babies Hithere.

And people wonder why birth rates are declining - such an unfriendly world for mothers

Well - I did take my baby to work. She slept in a carrycot while I lectured and I also breast fed her whilst doing so - but they were nursery nurses I was lecturing to and it could be regarded as educational. They used to pass her round to burp her after she had fed!