Is it rude for people to bring their kids to the workplace? ?

Question

A coworker returned from maternity leave and has made it clear (through actions and words) that she'd rather be home. She's constantly on the phone with her husband (who watches the baby), leaves the office to meet him in the parking lot during work hours, has brought the baby in with her due to child care gaps. I had my last straw today when her husband dropped the baby off with her forty-five minutes before quitting time (she was late getting in due to the baby) and she asked one of us to hold him so she could use the bathroom. I was very short with her and said I had someplace to be (which I did). Our office is small and everyone can hear everything so it is disruptive to the rest of us. I think it's rude to impose your personal life on others in their place of business but I'm afraid to say anything God forbid in doing so would launch a workplace discrimination issue. This is nothing personal against babies and I have a child of my own. Any opinions?

Answer 1

You are correct that is rude. Do they make enough money to get a babysitter or a nanny or can you ask her politely mention it to your boss that it is distracting you when she dose this and if he has noticed it at all.

Answer 2

I would think the people who own the business would have a major issue with the baby being there.  If anything happens while the baby is there its on their back.  Just like workers comp.  I can't see her being able to get much work done either if she is that distracted. Take it up with the business owner.  

Answer 3

Ahem, not really.  BUT the most appropriate time is the "Bring your kids to work" day.

here's advice from your neighborhood friendly Immortal ninja.

Answer 4

It is EXTREMELY bad form to bring your children into your workplace unless your workplace involves children (such as a school, daycare, etc). The fact that your co-worker is bringing her child to work is disrespectful to all the other employees.  Someone needs to explain to this woman that this is unaccectable and that perhaps she should consider part-time work in order to spend more time with her child.  It is unfair of her to disrupt everyone else in the workplace because of her personal values/choices.  

Answer 5

Rude?  No.

Inappropriate?  Possibly.

Answer 6

I agree with you. While it's understandable to be a bit more tolerant of the imposing ways of a coworker or employee while she is in the middle of a life change, she should be expected to remedy her new situation as quickly as possible as not to inconvenience her workplace or coworkers. Has she been officially made aware of the difficulties her actions are causing? Unless you know her circumstances to be changing in the very near future, I would talk to your manager about this matter, as it his/her responsibility to deal with the problem. It's apparently causing tension in your workplace and compromising your work environment, which shouldn't be tolerated. Talk to your supervisor and let him/her know that while you're sympathetic of your coworker's situation, it is now starting to negatively affect your work productivity and that of your other coworkers. Maybe then your manager can have a talk with this employee and help her formulate a solution as to how to rememdy this problem.

Answer 7

Yes, the situation that you present here is very rude.  I think that she is trying to make a nuisances of herself in order to get fired and then bring a lawsuit.  You may want to look at some of the SAFETY and the labor laws in your area to see if your boss is aware of his or her liability!   His business insurance may drop him like a rock if they find out that he is running (for lack of a better term) "daycare"!   I KNOW that the child protection people might give him a hard time unless he gets a daycare license!   Also, there are a million small things involved.  If your business in some states, you also have to get special permits in case of any "pest" problems such as bees, wasps, ants etc.  In some states, if children are kept in a place of business, you can't treat any pests, have peanut butter on site because of the possibility of peanut allergies and have a WHOLE BUNCH more fire prevention or detection equipment!  Believe me, this is only the tip of the iceburg!  I used to work for a safety consulting firm.

Answer 8

I think that this is up to your boss.  If your boss is fine with it then you really can't say too much about it.  You can express your concern to your boss and hope they do something about it. I know what you mean though because my manager just had her second child and now she has to work at home mondays and fridays, supposedly she gets more work done at home than she does at work.  I am sure it has nothing to do with paying for child care)  I think that child care is something that you should have planned out before having a child so that these types of situations do  not arise.  Good Luck!