Bringing Kids to Work on Snow Days

[Anonymous]

My co-worker currently has her four-year-old in her office, which is next to mine. He's coloring quietly and isn't bothering anyone--you can't even hear him. I think it depends on the kid. I understand if someone gets in a jam, so as long as their kid is quiet, I have no problem with it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't know. . . I have a kid and would not do this unless it was an emergency (no childcare and some urgent thing to do at work). But honestly, I avoid doing it -- my husband or I will take the day off to stay home with DS if daycare is closed. I understand not everyone has paid leave, so if that's your situation, I understand, but for people who could take the day off, I generally feel like that's what parents are supposed to do when childcare falls through.

But when you both have something that needs to get done (deadlines don't automatically shift because it snowed in DC!), meetings to attend, it is better for the employer if your child accompanies you to the office. If your DC is still in daycare, your opinion on this might change when he enters real school. Most schools have more days off during the school year (not including the 12 weeks of summer break, for which camps are very hard to find for some of those weeks) than most people have vacation days. And that is before snow days enter the calculations!

As for it "not being done" in white collar jobs...for those employers that have joined the modern era of both men and women working, it is done. If you don't like it, start working to change the school calendar and child care options.

I feel very fortunate to have a child who can behave at the office and is not frowned upon.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't know. . . I have a kid and would not do this unless it was an emergency (no childcare and some urgent thing to do at work). But honestly, I avoid doing it -- my husband or I will take the day off to stay home with DS if daycare is closed. I understand not everyone has paid leave, so if that's your situation, I understand, but for people who could take the day off, I generally feel like that's what parents are supposed to do when childcare falls through.

But when you both have something that needs to get done (deadlines don't automatically shift because it snowed in DC!), meetings to attend, it is better for the employer if your child accompanies you to the office. If your DC is still in daycare, your opinion on this might change when he enters real school. Most schools have more days off during the school year (not including the 12 weeks of summer break, for which camps are very hard to find for some of those weeks) than most people have vacation days. And that is before snow days enter the calculations!

As for it "not being done" in white collar jobs...for those employers that have joined the modern era of both men and women working, it is done. If you don't like it, start working to change the school calendar and child care options.

I feel very fortunate to have a child who can behave at the office and is not frowned upon.

+1 Well said.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't know. . . I have a kid and would not do this unless it was an emergency (no childcare and some urgent thing to do at work). But honestly, I avoid doing it -- my husband or I will take the day off to stay home with DS if daycare is closed. I understand not everyone has paid leave, so if that's your situation, I understand, but for people who could take the day off, I generally feel like that's what parents are supposed to do when childcare falls through.

But when you both have something that needs to get done (deadlines don't automatically shift because it snowed in DC!), meetings to attend, it is better for the employer if your child accompanies you to the office. If your DC is still in daycare, your opinion on this might change when he enters real school. Most schools have more days off during the school year (not including the 12 weeks of summer break, for which camps are very hard to find for some of those weeks) than most people have vacation days. And that is before snow days enter the calculations!

As for it "not being done" in white collar jobs...for those employers that have joined the modern era of both men and women working, it is done. If you don't like it, start working to change the school calendar and child care options.

I feel very fortunate to have a child who can behave at the office and is not frowned upon.

+2. Both of my kids are good and behave well at my office and at DH's (he takes them sometimes, too). Not to mention my office is large and I can host both of my kids and still get my work done. They can eat lunch at the conference table in my office. I shut the door and no one is the wiser. They know to be quiet when I'm on the phone. I'm as white collar as they come (as is DH), and if I am expected to be accessible at home, then my employers, clients and colleagues can understand that sometimes things - like snow days or a random teacher in-service day - happen. I can work from home but I prefer to be in the office. I have better equipment and a better set up (multiple screens, etc.) at the office.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I must be old school, because my feeling is that, especially in a large company, this is something that Just Isn't Done, especially by white-collar workers.

I grew up going to work with my white collar dad at a big company on teacher work days. From about age 8 on (after my mom went back to work) I would hang in his office and read all day, or later I would check out this new thing called the internet. I learned how to answer phones appropriately and file and do other office work. But then, my dad was strict as he'll and if we had acted up there would have been hell to pay when we got home.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I must be old school, because my feeling is that, especially in a large company, this is something that Just Isn't Done, especially by white-collar workers.

Yes, you are old school. I think as long as your children are well behaved, this is fine to do. It's also reality...and, I think, reminds colleagues, etc. that we have lives outside of work. I brought both my kids to work today. I have a job where I cannot just take a day off, nor can I work from home. Our school initially said 2 hour delay then changed to no school, and my DH was already at work. I have no family to help. So this was my only option. My kids are a little older (although too young to stay home alone). They were in my office and didn't bother anyone.

[Anonymous]

Preferable to leaving my 6 year old home alone all day. Reality is that when your kids are home from school and you work you have to do something with them. Bosses/workplaces who think there should be some third dimension where kids go during work hours are stupid.

[Anonymous]

Really depends on the office and the kid(s). Is it a place where kids can tuck into a quiet spot out of the way?

[Anonymous]

Where is this happening? In six years at my law firm, I have never seen this. Have to say, I wish I had. I'd love to see some kids at work once in a while!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I must be old school, because my feeling is that, especially in a large company, this is something that Just Isn't Done, especially by white-collar workers.

You're not old school, you're stupid school.

[Anonymous]

We used to go to work with my mom sometimes (family owned business) - both on snow days and when we were sick with colds. We usually had some school assignments to work on, some books to read, some toys to play with and we would stay in a conference room playing *very* quietly. It was kind of boring but it worked.

[Anonymous]

I have never done this. But my 5 year old has serious self regulation issues and could not keep quiet, not run around etc. I use vacation and split the days with my spouse.

[Anonymous]

I hate when my coworkers do this. I think it's rude and unprofressional.

[Anonymous]

I went to a chiropractor recently where both of the kids (2 and 4 I think) were in the back of the front office, playing and generally just being kids. It didn't really bother me, but if one had had a screaming fit or something, I'd be annoyed.

[Anonymous]

I remember countless times going into my Mom's/Dad's work as a kid. This was in the 80s...at the the time no one had an issue with it or cared. I helped my Dad make copies or read a book or just did stuff quietly.

I think if I needed to and was stuck, I could bring my kids in and as long as they had stuff to do (tablet / movies /etc...), then it wouldn't be an issue.