Everyday work
Take a baby to the office? What is allowed and what is not
Parents sometimes face the question of whether they can take their baby to the office. This is not regulated by law.
Babies in the office are generally not allowed or forbidden by law – there is no legal regulation in Germany that regulates a child to the office.
Whether a baby can be brought to the office depends primarily on the employer and must be coordinated with it. The employer can allow them to take away, but does not have to.
Baby in the office: approval must be
It is important that neither work nor colleagues are disturbed and there is no danger to the child. In jobs with an increased risk (e.g. workshop, laboratory, construction site), it is generally not permitted to bring babies or toddlers to work.
In the office environment, taking it is often possible in exceptional or emergencies if supervision guarantees and the approval of the employer has been obtained. However, there is no legal obligation to permit.
No legal claim
Employers can therefore decide individually whether and to what extent they agree. Also, company agreements or collective agreements also contain no clauses that provide for this. So it is always a voluntary decision by the company.
If you are considering bringing your baby to the office, an open conversation with the manager is the first and most important step. Even if your supervisor agrees, approval is often linked to conditions – for example for certain days, situations or rooms. These agreements should be clearly determined so that there are no misunderstandings later.
So far, there is no such thing as a court ruling that generally allowed or forbids taking babies to the office. The situation is legally regulated in individual cases and the respective approval of the employer.
Source: Stern
