Area mother one of growing number nationwide to bring infant to work
Working moms merge jobs, family lifeFARGO - Returning to work after maternity leave was an easy transition for Karena Carlson – she brought her baby along.
By: Heidi Shaffer, INFORUM
- Karena Carlson with her infant daughter
- Mixing up a bottle of formula
FARGO - Returning to work after maternity leave was an easy transition for Karena Carlson – she brought her baby along.
Carlson, the city of Fargo’s communications manager, is one of a growing number of moms nationwide who is merging parenting with the workplace.
Carlson has her daily routine with 5-month-old Jill down as well as any stay-at-home mom, but being able to do it in her office has allowed her to also keep up with her work routine.
The idea emerged somewhat out of necessity when Jill was born in December, just as the city was gearing up for the flood, said city administrator and Carlson’s supervisor, Pat Zavoral.
“We’ve got to be more accommodating for young, working mothers,” said Zavoral, who has grandchildren about the same age as Jill.
In order to maintain continuity for public information the city was providing, arrangements were made for baby Jill to come to work starting in February.
Carlson’s and Jill’s day starts at 7:45 a.m. with a stroller ride into City Hall.
“My stroller is always just packed with stuff,” Carlson said.
As mom unpacks, baby plays on a play mat on Carlson’s office floor. After a few minutes, it’s time for Jill’s morning nap, which generally lasts an hour or two.
“While she’s sleeping, I work, work, work, you know,” Carlson said. “The lights are off, and it’s like – to everyone else – that I’m not even here.”
Carlson gets all of her “two-hand tasks,” such as typing news releases and answering emails, done while Jill sleeps.
Jill wakes up about lunchtime and is back in her seat for an afternoon nap from 1 p.m. until about 3:30, Carlson said.
Carlson completes her “one-hand” duties as she holds or feeds Jill, who sometimes also watches from her blue Bumbo seat on Carlson’s desk.
“I don’t think I could have done it with my other kids because she’s just very mild-mannered,” said Carlson, also mother to 10-year-old Kain and 2-year-old Jack.
Those in the office agree.
“Jill is such a good baby, you hardly know she’s there,” Zavoral said.
“She’s a quiet baby,” said Kember Anderson, who works in the commission office about 15 feet from Carlson’s door. “We don’t hear a lot from her.”
Carlson plans to start bringing Jill to day care full time June 1 and possibly sooner as she grows more active.
“It’ll be kind of sad to not see her here every day,” Anderson said. “We’ve gotten to watch her grow up so much in the last couple of months.”
The arrangement to have Jill in her office has saved the family both the anxiety of paying for and taking a young baby to day care.
And Carlson said she hopes it’s an option more employers consider for working parents.
In 2009 in the metro, about 81 percent of women with children from newborns to age 5 were in the workforce, said demographer Richard Rathge, director of the North Dakota State Data Center. That’s a rate higher than the national average, he said.
Carlson researched the topic before returning from maternity leave, checking into different policies other workplaces instituted.
Carlson is the first Fargo city employee to bring an infant to work, but other departments might consider it on a case-by-case basis, Zavoral said.
Many at work have said it’s a great idea, Carlson said, but she’s careful to be considerate of her co-workers, knowing there are likely some who don’t approve.
“Everyone is a little different,” she said. “Some people act like there’s not even a baby in my office when they come in; for other people, it just takes over the entire conversation.”
The metro Chamber of Commerce hasn’t heard of any other businesses that allow parents to bring children in, but personnel policies are mostly confidential, said Chamber President Craig Whitney.
State agencies in North Dakota have the option to adopt the practice.
The Department of Agriculture in Bismarck had its first mom and baby at work 14 years ago. Since then, the agency has welcomed a total of 16 infants, with another expected any day, said Ted Quarand, public information officer for the department.
The program allows parents to get back to work sooner, and “having babies around is kind of a cheering experience,” he said.
After contacting the Minnesota Department of Human Resources and Diversity and the Office of Management and Budget, it’s unclear whether Minnesota has similar policies.
In North Dakota, the Department of Human Resource Management, Office of Management and Budget, and the Department of Health allow parents to bring in infants, usually up until they’re 4 months old, said Laurie Sterioti Hammeren of the Department of Human Resource Management.
It’s essential for parents considering bringing their babies to work to have their own office and backup child care in case the arrangement doesn’t work out, Carlson said.
“If you get the opportunity, at least try it,” she said. “It’s been the best experience for me, and I think it’s a nice bonding period with your child.”
The arrangement has also strengthened Carlson’s attachment to her job, she said.
“When your employer will allow you to do something like this that helps you so much, it makes you want to give that much back to your office,” she said.
Readers can reach Forum reporter Heidi Shaffer at (701) 241-5511
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