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?

My dad worked on a farm so we often got to ride on the tractors.

We didn't. My father was really hot on farm safety.

I work with child sex offenders so probably wouldn't be a good idea for me!
But I think it's a good idea for older children to see what a workplace is like. Maybe they could have a tour of appropriate workplaces.

When I was little my dad's office used to have a children's Christmas party (after work!), one year my Dad had left something at work so, after the party, I went down to his desk with him to collect it. I loved seeing where he worked, especially the couple of personal mementos on his desk. He pointed out where his colleagues sat and I could picture him at work there.

For an occasional day then it can be good for children to see jobs that are never on the tv, to see a bit of the world they don't get to see, to see the standards that they will be held to when they get older.

Yes it is disruptive, but really businesses should be contributing to society not just the shareholders pockets. A shadow is much easier than a work experience student there for a week or two.

Yes some people could get upset, and I would expect local teams to show some sensitivity, but we can't and shouldn't run lives with the aim of not upsetting anybody, partly because that's not practical ( I have seen on here that people can get upset at the craziest of things) and partly because it wouldn't be healthy either if you hide away from anything that upsets you.

children as a part of society as much as anyone else and will be in shops and wherever else you see other people

Absolutely, provided the company are on board and it is properly organised. The best events have been where the company organises a day of activities for the (slightly older children) as well as a tour if the workplace and meeting colleagues.

We have this for Xmas eve.

Most people are out of the office on annual leave anyway, there is little work to do and last year we left at 11 o clock (normal hours are 9 til 5.15.)

In this situation it works well.

Really depends on where you work. I’m head of marketing at a fe college - would be fine for me. Dh is a CSI often dealing with really gruesome stuff - not really appropriate

Never been subjected to this

First thing I wonder is about privacy and boundaries. Many things are presented as an option in the workplace when they’ll actually be well pissed off if you don’t join in. Many parents might not want to do it for all kinds of reasons.

I just can’t see the value to anyone of an actual day for it. And surely most of us are keeping up an image/doing an acting job throughout the working day?

It's bad enough when colleagues bring their kids to work during half-terms

Many things are presented as an option in the workplace when they’ll actually be well pissed off if you don’t join in. Many parents might not want to do it for all kinds of reasons.

We limit the numbers on a first come, first served basis.

It won't work in all workplaces - you have to do a risk assessment. It won't work for all parents, nor for all children. But a well-organised session, for older children, with limited numbers, can work well, and be beneficial.

I was at a conference recent, and someone commented that the jobs children tend to know about are teachers and uniforms - police, fire, ambulance, nursing, doctors, supermarket staff, cleaners. There are an awful lot more jobs out there. In large organisations, there are lots of jobs in one place - we are a technology company, but we have finance, legal, sales, HR - lots of jobs which aren't just about tech. But we do also need to be encouraging children to consider roles in tech, else there will be a massive skills shortage not far ahead.
There can also be whizzy equipment to demonstrate. If something they see or hear on that day piques their interest, that's a good thing. But it's also about being part of a local community and people understanding what the company in the big building they pass every day actually do.

It does take some people away from work for a day, but it can give some opportunity for younger staff to show their organising abilities, their speaking abilities and so on, so it can work for staff development as well. If it's well-run, there are a whole load of benefits to doing ithe, for everyone involved.

Kids would love it, I doubt anyone in the office would get much work done, but it would be entertaining!

I work in quite a jazzy creative company and my kids couldnt care any less when they've visited. It's just boring grown ups sitting at computers! Not sure how they'd cope with a whole day. Also I'm the only employee with kids at the mo, the rest are 20 somethings. I remember my dad's work had a works Xmas party for kids when I was little whilst the adults had a dinner dance. That was nice but it was a big firm with money in the 80s.

Not really. I did do it a couple of times when the firm had organised a Christmas party.

Once the kids are secondary school age they might get something out of it.

And please: no dogs in the workplace either (unless your job is training guide dogs or similar!)

No. Don't mind the occasional child, but if it's Dishy Dave from Accounts's kids and he is a bit too pally with Pam from Payroll, and I
saw him snogging Clare from QA at the Christmas party, I wouldn't want to see him playing doting dad at the office

I can't imagine my kids will want to spend a day at my work place unless they set some fun activities and let me take them home after half day.

There's nothing to see in our office, I work from home most days so all they see is me sitting on different set of furniture!

It's a good idea. Not for young children. Should all children be kept under lock and key in case 1 person is infertile? Of course not.

My mum worked for the NHS and they had a very organised approach with tours and activities. It led to me applying for work experience there and ultimately heavily influenced my career choice.

Both exH and I work in safeguarding roles which we try very hard to protect our children from. Wouldn't be possible for us.
Unless you work in a thrilling environment the whole thing would be bloody depressing for all concerned.

I'm encouraged to bring my children to work with me sometimes but my children mostly don't want to as they'd be stuck with me for a whole shift. They came to my work Christmas party last year, as did DH. It's not an office set up though. It'd be no good with toddlers unless someone else came along to look after them (a colleague's adult DD brings colleague's 3 year old granddaughter in sometimes) but children over 7 would be fine. They'd get bored though and end up watching TV I suspect...

Universal bring your child to work days seem a bit daft unless there's a programme of activities. A bring your children over the age of 7/8 open afternoon or similar makes more sense.

This is a really interesting thread. The govt recently implemented a new careers strategy, and the "gatsby benchmarks" are central to this. They recommend that students should have at least one meaningful encounter with an employer every year, from Year 7 up. (I think it might be Year 8 actually, but close enough).

Our school does work experience in Year 10, and an interview with somone from an industry chosen by the student in Year 11. But we are thinking about providing resources (a booklet for the student to complete and guidance for employers) to support a "take your child to work day" for years 7-9, where this would be done in the student's own time I.e. School Holiday or inset day.

My reservation has been that it will be easier for some students' parents than for others to accommodate their child. So couldn't ever require it, but it could be fab for those who are able to do it.

(Couldn't do it in school time as we would have to implement health and safety checks, monitoring etc. We do this for Year 10 wexp, and it's not a small job. Even with parents, school would be responsible. Hence requesting it to be done in own time. )

Couldn't do this in my work, I'm a carer in a nursing home. I think it would just frighten kids. It's not a residential home, it's a nursing home. The residents are very poorly, a lot of end of life type of care. Completely inappropriate for a child.

Not to mention the legal side of it.

I'm the only one with young children in my office. My colleagues have either grown up children or are childfree.

I think they would find their presence distracting and annoying quite honestly.

Plus, I go to work for a break from my kids. Why would I want them there when I have to actually work as well? Total nightmare!

Seems a bit crazy to have all on the same day.
If appropriate, some offices have a lunch area where non staff can come - we’re hoping to take the kids to an early lunch/breakfast there. If this were not possible I would take them to the outside and show them the building, then give a FaceTime/pre-recorded tour of selected bits (if allowed) - eg desk. Or show photos - if allowed. I don’t think they would need much longer than 5 mins to get a mental picture of what happens.