South Africa: Take a boy child to work

When your work expouses policies one cannot help but wonder if those policies will be implemented. As an employee, you may not always agree with them but when they work, they really work.

In 2019, I met Zinhle Khobeni de Lange, founder of The Great People of South Africa, a grantee from the first phase of the Women’s Voice and Leadership South Africa fund, who used to facilitate workshops with her baby on her back, much like Brenda Fassie’s song. I always found this to be quite intriguing. I hoped that one day other institutions would adopt this amazing way of working that enables women to nurse and care for their youngest.

Imagine the stress of travelling for days as a first time mom and the anxiety one would have leaving your baby with a child-minder for the first time. Well, Gender Links has ensured that this anxiety never locates its employees. An opportunity I have fully embraced.

For the first time since I welcomed my son in December 2023, I had to travel for work. I toyed with the idea of leaving him with my parents, or my aunt or even a close friend but my conscious did not allow me to. I could not imagine seven days on the road without my son. So here I am, having travelled from Johannesburg to North West and Kimberly doing what I love most, my work whilst also being able to care for my son without a worry.

On 31 August, to close off Women’s Month in South Africa, Gender Links invited South African Women’s Rights organisations to apply for funding under the Government of Canada’s Renewed Women Voice and Leadership-South Africa Fund (WVL SA).  The initiative arises from Canada’s Feminist International Assistance Policy (FIAP). The grant call is managed by Gender Links through its GL Services portfolio.

Gender Links staff visited the North West, Mahikeng (9-10 September); Northern Cape, Kimberly (11-12 September), and the Eastern Cape, East London and Port Elizabeth, 13 and 14 September respectively at these locations to popularise the grant call and offer technical assistance on the applications.

The day started with me preparing my son like any morning when we have to be ready at a certain time. I then put him in his walking ring whilst I showered and got myself ready for the day ahead. I gave him his breakfast and then had mine. We then headed to the conference room to start the day.

As participants entered the room, their eyes lit up when they were greeted by the four-toothed big-eyed little boy whisking from corner to corner across the room in his walking ring. The information session proceeded without a glitch technologically or baby glitch expect for that occasional contagious laugh when the participants take a moment to embrace him.

Politicians around the world are paving the way of normalising taking children to work. New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Arden was the first female world leader to bring her baby, three-month-old Neve Te Aroha, to the United Nations General Assembly in New York. Former European Member of Parliament Licia Ronzulli’s daughter Vittoria became famous for sitting with her mum Licia while she attended sessions in the European Parliament in Strasbourg.

In a first for the Australian parliament, Senator Larissa Waters breastfed her daughter Alia Joy during a vote in May 2017. A photo of Swedish MEP Jytte Guteland with her young son went viral on social media in March 2017. She said she wanted to normalise bringing children to work so that parents could do so when necessary. In Spain, Carolina Bescansa, an MP with Podemos (We Can) was criticised for breastfeeding her baby in parliament in January 2016. Some called it unnecessary.[1] A debate for another day.

According to an article by Kate Palmer[2] if implemented properly mothers bringing their babies to work ensures that they stay productive. Palmer notes that, with the employment rate of mothers reaching a 20-year high, employers are increasingly rethinking workplace policies to better support those with caregiving responsibilities. The debate over whether employees should be allowed to bring their babies to work gained momentum after MP Stella Creasy sparked discussion by bringing her newborn into the House of Commons.

For some mothers, bringing their baby to work can be a practical solution for balancing childcare with their careers. Research indicates that women are more likely than men to reduce their working hours to manage child-rearing responsibilities, which can hinder their career advancement. A recent study revealed that only 13% of women received promotions compared to 26% of men, highlighting the career challenges faced by mothers. These figures underscore the difficult choice women face between maintaining a steady income and spending more time with their children.

Allowing employees to bring children on work trips helps to save on the rising costs of childcare and also significantly boosts retention and morale. Parents need flexible work arrangements to balance their family responsibilities, so they are more likely to value and remain loyal to employers who offer a range of flexible options. Nothing could have made my life better than being able to have my son with me on the road.

Gender Links is an example of moving from policy to action.

This opinion piece is written by Nomthandazo Mankazana, Women’s Voice and Leadership SA Manager. For more information on the Call for proposals contact the, Nomthandazo  on grants1@genderlinks.org.za / 082 560 0066 OR visit the website www.wvlsa.org.za  Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and X

[1] In pictures: Politician mothers take their babies to work (bbc.com)

[2] Bringing Babies Into The Workplace | workingmums.co.uk