Faced with the idea of using consultants or temporary employees, the bank wanted to come up with a plan to curb the leave costs and get employees back to work sooner. In place for three years, the program allows new parents to bring their babies to work until the children are six months old or start to crawl. Employees are allowed to take eight weeks of leave after a delivery without complications. The parent is primarily responsible for the baby. Other employees can request a baby-free workspace.
Management decides which employee moves, based on space and equipment considerations.
Since the program started, no employee has requested a baby-free workspace. In fact, there is quite a bit of quantitative analysis being done. Reduced absenteeism Some employers are finding work-life programs effective in reducing the number of employee absences. According to the 1996 Unscheduled Absence Survey by CCH Inc., the rate of absenteeism has increased more than 14 percent since 1992. And more absences are now attributed to family responsibilities and personal stress.