I have two babies come to work with their mothers every day and have set up a mothers' workroom so that they can have their babies in with them and still work.

As the babies get older, the mums have decided they will have a nanny come in. That way mums get to have their cake and eat it too - including choosing the nanny and supervising it all in the same area.

This is not a crèche situation where you drop your child off and pick them up at the end of the day. Depending on your job, a child care centre may be the best option. However for women, especially in the year after they have their babies, most do not want to give up the interaction that they have at home on a daily basis - yet with the rising cost of living, many have no choice.

I am not a large corporate and do not have millions to spend on this but have found that these women who are supported in the workplace are loyal and efficient. I have also found that others are lining up to work for us just because we have this true flexibility. Like all situations, this has taken time to set up and to manage.

We have had issues such as how to manage the phones and other employee interaction if the babies are sleeping; irritable children creating noise that disturbs the entire office and we have changed the office layout to accommodate both mum and baby needs. We have had meetings on handling and interacting with the infants but I can tell you that our office is a better place for everyone to work in despite some of the challenges. We also have set the mums up with laptops and skype for home if they have sick or restless infants and let them set their own hours because sometime babies stay up all night and mums need their sleep. Our employee turnover by the way is nought. The question is, if we as a small business can do it, why can't corporate and government?

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Carla - President, Parenting in the Wo Unregistered | May 24, 2008 08:24 AM Ms. Hodgkins, I was thrilled to find out that you allow babies to come to work. I would love to list your company on our database of "baby-friendly" organizations (we have more than 90 so far, most of them in the United States--(http://www.babiesatwork.org/9_companies_overview.html)). The benefits you have found in allowing babies in the workplace (and the importance of establishing guidelines) are consistent across the wide range of companies with these programs. Our Institute is focused on education and providing resources to increase the number of organizations offering babies-at-work programs. I would be very interested in talking with you further about the potential for expanding this concept in Australia. I am happy to answer any questions you may have about our work. Carla Moquin (801) 897-8702 Framingham, Massachusetts carla@babiesatwork.org http://www.babiesatwork.org/ http://www.parentingatwork.org/

Old Mum Unregistered | May 28, 2008 01:15 AM Woah! What a GREAT story. Brave and commendable that you actually implemented it and didn't just promote your "family friendly" policies - often empty promises rather than policies! Got any jobs on offer there?

Judy Loader - Friend Unregistered | May 28, 2008 09:48 AM I have had the great pleasure of knowing Tracey for many years and she is soooooo ahead of the times. Hey Tracey big corporates and government will probably catch up in the year 'never'. Seriously though you are amazing! Lucky employees who get to work at AELC. Best of luck Love Jude.

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