A
female
age
41-50,
anonymous
writes:Hi guys,My manager at work had a baby 4 months ago and since it's been born she has bought him (the baby) in to the office practically every week! 1 week she came in 3 times. She came in to show off the baby- not for anything work related.What's annoying is that when he cries she doesn't take him out the room and just stands there holding him and we are in a call centre and on the phone and customers can't hear us!Also another colleague wanted to bring her child in for half hour 1 day and she was told no by our manager- I just find it so 2 faced that she can bring in BOTH her kids- 1 of them is 8 and runs around and yet no one else is allowed.Anyone had to deal with this and what can we say to who without getting anyone in trouble? Our supervisor is practically her best friend so we can't talk to her about it.Thanks
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male
reader, AvgGuy1  +, writes (28 May 2010):
Speaking from a management perspective (I've been a 'manager').
You need to check with and bring up this issue with your HR department.
Here in the US, depending on which state you live in, you can't do something for one employee that you wouldn't do for others - e.g. letting one employee bring kids in and not others. This is fodder for a 'discrimination' lawsuit.
It's a little different for handicapped employees. In that case you must make 'resonable' accommodations for the disabled employee. Having kids is not a disability.
Culturally, as others have stated, it IS VERY unprofessional - especially for a call center - to have a baby crying in the background while you or co-workers are on the phone. If nothing else, this issues should be taken up with management further up the foodchain.
A
female
reader, s4ndy +, writes (27 May 2010):
Im a manager in a contact centre and I am surprised this is allowed to happen, not good customer service when they can hear a screaming baby in the background. Is there no one higher than the supervisor who is the offenders friend. You could say, you love children (even if you dont) but the staff find it distracting when on a call and it doesnt sound very professional in the background when a customer is on the line.
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A
male
reader, AvgGuy1 +, writes (27 May 2010):
Speaking from a management perspective (I've been a 'manager').
You need to check with and bring up this issue with your HR department.
Here in the US, depending on which state you live in, you can't do something for one employee that you wouldn't do for others - e.g. letting one employee bring kids in and not others. This is fodder for a 'discrimination' lawsuit.
It's a little different for handicapped employees. In that case you must make 'resonable' accommodations for the disabled employee. Having kids is not a disability.
Culturally, as others have stated, it IS VERY unprofessional - especially for a call center - to have a baby crying in the background while you or co-workers are on the phone. If nothing else, this issues should be taken up with management further up the foodchain.
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A
female
reader, YouWish +, writes (26 May 2010):
 Yeah, this is when we bring out the saying "life isn't fair". Eyeswideopen has a point when she says that "rank has its privileges".
However, if the manager's kids interfere with your ability to do your job, you could bring it to HER superior. Unless the manager is the owner of the company, she has to answer to someone. Just make sure that the report is anonymous.
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A
female
reader, Carrot2000 +, writes (26 May 2010):
 Rank does have privileges, but I'm sure your supervisor answers to someone. Have you spoken to her superior or human resources? You don't have to mention your boss in your questioning, you can just ask about the company's policy concerning children in the workplace and suggest that a memo outlining these policies be issued.
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A
female
reader, eyeswideopen +, writes (26 May 2010):
 Rank has it's privileges.
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A
female
reader, cnith +, writes (26 May 2010):
 Hmmm.... You could try talking to the supervisor and say, I am concerned because I can't hear my customer well and I got told it was unprofessional to hear a baby in the background. Is there a way she can maybe take her baby out when he's crying?
If that doesn't work, go to HER supervisor. (the sups, sup) or if you have it, human resources. Tell them it's unprofessional and not conductive to work flow because the kid running around is distracting and the baby crying makes it hard for you to help your customers properly because you can't hear. Plus customers have complained about it.
I know if I called a place where there was a baby crying and I couldn't hear or they couldn't hear me, I'd never call again and you'd lose me as a customer.
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