Would you be put off by this?

[Bearbrownies]

I have to do an interview soon for my business, and I have no childcare atm. Would you be put off if the person interviewing you for a job brought their kids along? My kids are 2 and 5 btw.

Yes to be honest it doesn’t look very professional.

Obviously depends what your business is though.

Yes. You need to find someone to look after them

Or to flip it would you be put off if your interviewee turned up with a 2 and 5yo?

Yes, of course it's unprofessional.

I wouldn't work for someone who did that.

I would be put off if the children were talking or making a noise with toys in the background, yes. I mean, put off in the sense that it would be distracting. It wouldn't put me off taking the job if I wanted it.

You are the interviewer? Not the candidate? It wouldn't bother me but most of my career has been in the charity sector, mainly women's charities so it's not that unusual. And, if you're children being in and around the workplace is fairly common then i suppose putting off prospective employees that might not want to work in a place that's a bit more laid back wouldn't be a bad thing necessarily

Yes to be fair, I'd wonder what kind of business this was if the owner looked after two young kids whilst running it and I wouldn't wish to be involved unless desperate.

Depends are they often in the office? Do you have other staff in the office who watch them while you go to meetings etc

Do you have someone in evening's that could help out? You could do an evening interview since its your business.

I’d be encouraged that you’d be an understanding employer when it came to being a working mum!! Obviously depends who you are interviewing.

Well it might indicate it would be a job with a nice friendly atmosphere that has a bit of flexibility, or you might interpret it as the boss always taking advantage.
Are you flexible with your employees? In which case this might be attractive. If you won't be, don't do it.

It would automatically make me not want to work there, as it shows the workplace is unprofessional and if that’s going on, you never know what else is too.

It would in a public place, like a coffee shop/ restaurant. The kids would just be sitting next to me, no running around or playing with toys.

I run an agency, so they're not exactly working for me.

I haven't thought of evening interviews, that's an idea. Thanks

I’m wanting to say that I think that it shows you could be family friendly but I do actually think it might be a bit odd. Do you mean a interview or several?Loads of our sports centres etc are running holiday clubs. Could you use one for a day? It would be a much better experience for the day for the children than colouring in a coffee shop. I take it the job has no involvement with children? If it did you could make a virtue out of necessity by getting them to interview. Be a twist for any job if done right.

I wouldn't care but then I have a 2yo anyway.

i'd prob think it was a flexible place to work to be honest

There's no way you can guarantee the children will sit quietly in a coffee shop! They are young, how long are they going to be happy sitting quietly, without interacting with you at all. Your attention will be divided.

It would probably give me the impression that if I was stuck for childcare I would be able to bring my own dc to work. Would that be ok?

a 2 year old and a 5 year old can be very distracting and need your attention so no

Assuming they will just sit and (largely) not need attention, then I'd be fine with it. I think it'd make me feel that the interviewer/company was human, relaxed and flexible.

For context, I don't have kids or any plans to, so it's not because I'd think or hope that it worked both ways or anything.

If I was the one being interviewed I would walk straight out. It's very disrespectful.

I would find this a bit odd and unprofessional I’m afraid.

I think you're being quite unrealistic - a 2 year old and a 5 year old being there just won't allow you to concentrate on the interview. There's no way they will be able to entertain themselves for long enough, surely? So you'll be constantly interrupting your discussion with the interviewee. As you can schedule this, couldn't you find childcare from somewhere for a bit? It would absolutely put me off the job, I'm afraid.

I'm not comfortable around children and would be quite unimpressed if I turned up to an interview that I had made a lot of effort for to find two small children sitting in on it.