Bring Your Child To Work Day - yes or no?

[MumsnetJobsTeam]

Many companies have Bring Your Child To Work Day, where parents can show their children where they work and give them some experience of the workplace.

On one hand, these days can be an opportunity for children to learn, as well as find out more about their parents' lives. They can also make parents feel more supported in the workplace as their children are positively acknowledged and encouraged.

However, some say Bring Your Child To Work Day could be challenging for those who have lost a child, or are struggling to conceive. There are also some who think the practice isn't worth the potential drop in productivity - particularly for childless colleagues who are distracted, whether they like it or not.

We'd like to get your thoughts on Bring Your Child To Work Days. Are they a fun, useful opportunity, or something that should be approached with caution? And if so, what could companies do instead?

[BillHadersNewWife]

Inappropriate and unnecessary. Workplaces can support the children of employees by offering work experience placements when they're of a suitable age. I have children but don't want my workplace overrun with my colleagues offspring!

[Snipples]

We've done this at my office (international law firm) a good few times and it's become an annual thing. The children aren't running loose round the office - they get to see where their parent works and then we usually have face painting and games and a movie on in one of the conference rooms. It works really well. We just do it for an afternoon rather than the whole day.

[Xiaoxiong]

My old firm used to offer a week of work experience to any child or relative of any employee. Usually these kids were no younger than GCSE age, so thinking about A level choices and wanted to get an idea of what jobs were like and the work experience was helpful for them. I thought that was a better way to do it.

We also had a family event in the summer with all employees and kids, which was nice too. And no expectation of trying to work and wrangle kids at the same time. Before I had kids I just didn't go, we went to the pub I think...

[Aroundtheworldin80moves]

Just thinking through friends and family jobs...
Research lab... Not the safest place to have unqualified children
Vicar with five children... People don't want to talk about in depth personal problems with 1 child present.
Civil engineer... Children on building sites... No
Teacher... Well at least it's safe for children
Army officer... Don't have security clearance
Musician... No danger

My job... Youth worker... I do take my kids along anyway.

[Inebriati]

Companies that really can't have kids in their workplace could make a video and give an edited tour.

[Loopytiles]

We had this (large public sector employer), in a part of the building away from busy areas, and organised activities led by volunteers from our workplace. DC had a tour, then just had a very quick look at my work area later on, so not disruptive for colleagues.

It was good fun for the DC. I was glad to show them where I work as am there so much. But a big cost on the (volunteer) organisers’ time.

The parents were all trying to work at the same time, due to our workloads, which was crap for us and the DC!

DH’s work (private sector) does something similar, and has the budget to do it really well. Again, the DC only go to work areas v briefly.

[Fishcakey]

I can't think of anything worse than an office full of children.

[ItsChristmaaaaaaaaas]

I have taken my child to work (when childcare fell through) - but put him to work stuffing envelopes or photocopying. He has been 'paid' though and really enjoyed himself.

We did have an end of year company day when we would put on Christmas films in a large lecture room and Santa would come! That was fun and didn't disrupt the office.

[BillywigSting]

Wholly inappropriate in both of the sectors myself and dp work in (health and chemical industry respectively)

Both potentially dangerous environments, both with some highly confidential information floating around.

It really only works for office based corporate roles so I personally think it's a load of bollocks.

Industry could support working parents by providing decent parental leave and flexibility and support children to learn about the working world by not requiring years of experience for entry level jobs when they leave education.

[LadyCordeliaVorkosigan]

I work in an office and it would be boring for young kids (I've shown them photos), and most of what we discuss is sensitive. We do welcome work experience kids who are 14 or over - it takes some planning but with a bit of luck they can so something useful, usually researching things on the Internet, or drafting some policy advice someone else has done, to see if they think of anything extra.

There is childcare on the site in holidays so I have been able to take my kids to the canteen (impressed) and experience the slow lifts I moan about a lot. I wouldn't want to take kids to work and don't think anyone else would either.

[MintyMabel]

I can think of plenty of reasons not to do it, but childless colleagues wouldn't be one of them. I couldn't bring my child to work because it is completely inaccessible. I wouldn't spend the day lamenting the fact other people have children who aren't disabled.

[MrsNoMopp]

It is rare, in almost every context, to see someone consider the feelings of the not-by-choice childless. Such understanding would mean a huge amount to those who are usually expected to suck it up.

[ScreamingValenta]

As someone who is childfree and works somewhere (an office environment) where they have done this in the past - I think it's only worthwhile for older children, say, aged 14 plus, who can gain something from the experience and who won't be noisy and expect to be entertained.

We have had younger children in the office unofficially in the past and to be honest, it's boring for them and a nuisance for staff to keep them occupied, even if they aren't the sort of children to be intentionally disruptive.

Also (not that I am personally guilty of this ), but sometimes the language used and nature of conversations at work can be inappropriate for young children, and people who aren't used to being around children won't necessarily apply the filters you'd expect in a child-centred environment.

[ScreamingValenta]

And if so, what could companies do instead?

Why not send companies out to do presentations to schools about their businesses, or organise job fairs for older ones where lots of local companies could have a stand?

[wonkylegs]

Not sure about a whole day but I think I'd thought out and managed well then they can be great not only as an insight into industry but also what parents do all day.
Obviously not suited to all jobs but would work well for some.
I'm self employed and my practice is based at my home so my kids are quite aware of what I do and I've even taken both of them on building sites (carefully controlled of course)

[BigFatLiar]

No longer working but in the later years we were all encouraged to work from home (IT based) when we weren't on client sites. No problem with 'Bring your child to work' when working from home though I doubt its much of a change for them.

[TeenPlusTwenties]

I think it can increase inequality too.
Child of lawyer gets to go to law firm.
Equally bright child of shop worker gets to go to shop.

[ColdRainAgain]

Totally inappropriate for vast swathes of working people with kids too.
None of the companies DH or I have work for would allow minors to the interesting bits.

So, what do you do with a child when you cant take them to work, or dont work, and they have been told to shadow a parent for the day??

By all means, encourage companies to have open days - for workers and the general public- but please dont make it a national day, as so many adults and children would be unable to participate.

[CountFosco]

If it is done well then it's worthwhile having children of school age in work settings.

I work in the Pharma industry. We have lots of STEM ambassadors at work who go into schools (primary and secondary) to talk about our work and dish out freebies (colouring books etc). We also work with a charity that brings primary age kids into industrial settings, they do experiments at school then come on site, have a tour of our facilities and see how we do the same experiments with cutting edge technology (we've got mini labcoats and safety specs for them, they look so cute!). The kids love it, one group gave a presentation on what they had learnt to the entire company. For secondary aged kids we are involved in holiday STEM workshops and do week long work experience for GCSE and A level students where they spend a day in each dept and learn about what we do. Doesn't finish at 18 either, we teach in local Unis, have year in Industry students, advanced apprenticeships and fund PhD studentships.

[newmumwithquestions]

I work in an office and it would work in our team. Lots of parents and it is generally supportive of home life (and anyone who didn’t want to come into the office that day could work from home). We could also (usually, depending what’s going on) stop ops for a couple of hours to take them into the warehouse etc to see more interesting stuff.

But it wouldn’t necessarily work for other parents/children. So I agree that schemes that support education in their setting are better - the STEM examples from a pp sound great.

I spend a day last week giving lectures and a practical session to a university course related to my job - that seems to work; at least we keep getting invited back so it must be reasonably well received!

[lifeisgoodagain]

It's a good idea but only if age appropriate, perhaps 8+ As for potentially upsetting people, whilst yes there are those who will be sensitive, you can't ban something because it upsets a small minority eg should you ban allowing partners to attend the Christmas party because someone has gone through a messy divorce, ban pictures of dogs stuck on computers because someone lost a pet? The benefits of children being inspired are great

[Caspianberg]

I think its a nice idea. Past places I have worked have encouraged this. But usually its not a whole day, but a Friday from 3 pm. Those not interested can go home early if they prefer. Usually just before Xmas too.

[lifeisgoodagain]

Ps both mine did work experience on campus and both are now at university and once plans to take a PhD

[Divebar]

I’m in the police and we had “ bring your daughter to work day” - my DD was too young but I saw the photos and it looked like they had a great time. They had an organised programme and got to go to the bits that lots of people would enjoy ( eg dogs and horses) and even got their photos taken outside Number 10. So it is possible even in environments that are not traditionally considered child friendly.

[thatmustbenigelwiththebrie]

Back in the 90s when I was growing up there as a national "Take your Daughter to Work day", I think as a means of encouraging girls to think about careers.

I went to my mum's office (social worker) and my friend's mum's office (academic). Mostly it was pretty boring and I didn't learn anything.