Half of corporate Australia would allow it, mostly as a last resort. In our community poll, 30% said kids should be in the office only in emergencies and 20% said bring them in and make it normal. Another 22% said that's what working from home is for, and 27% want the office kept kid free.
What did the poll find?
Most employees get 4 weeks of annual leave. School holidays run for 12 weeks, and parents are left to bridge the gap every year. We asked our community whether kids should be allowed in the office.
| Answer | Share of votes |
|---|---|
| Yes, normalise it | 20% |
| Only in emergencies | 30% |
| That's what WFH is for | 22% |
| Keep the office kid free | 27% |
Figures are rounded, so they add to 99%.
That puts 50% in favour in some form and 49% against. For many, it came down to how often it happened and whether it disrupted everyone else.
Why do parents bring their kids to work?
Cost, mostly. Parents quoted holiday programs at $100 to $170 a day per child, and office mandates leave less room to work from home.
I do think cost is a huge factor. School holiday programs are $120-150 per day per kid. And that sometimes only for school dat hours 9-330. Multiplied by multiple kids across multiple weeks. If you can have one kid in the office and save the $150 and there's no impact to your workplace - isn't that a good thing? Kids consistently running and screaming absolutely not. But they're not robots and they also exist (as much as some workplaces like to forget).
Working mum of 3 here. No parent wants to bring their kids into the office, but when school terms are built around stay at home mums, and employers have in-office mandates, sometimes a day in the office is just a trade off you need to make when holiday programs cost $100 per kid per day. My kids get a full briefing on office etiquette though.
Yes the office isn't an ideal place for kids but we can't have it both ways. If companies want to kill wfh then somethings got to give... especially during school hols. And especially during a cost of living crisis with stagnant wages when some people are having to tighten their belts and can't afford holidays camps / nannies etc.
What do colleagues think about kids in the office?
The office wasn't built for kids. Most offices have no soundproofing, and small children have no volume control. Even the best-behaved kid can distract everyone else.
Today I saw 2 kids dumped in a soundproof booth all day playing the violin (confirmed not soundproof)
I have no problem if they're old enough to be quiet. A lady at work brought in 2 daughters who yelled and chased each other behind my back then onto the hallway. Literally bumped into people carrying coffee...
Some colleagues without children said the juggle lands on them in other ways.
As a woman who doesn't have children also frustrated to be on calls prior to 9/ after 5 due to so many women working a compressed week after childcare. Why do my 9-5 5 days a week now need to fit into your work / life choices?
Who is responsible for a child in the office?
For many families, bringing a child to work is the final resort. Once the child is in the office, safety and confidentiality become the employer's responsibility too.
What are companies doing about school holidays?
Some solved this years ago. Before COVID, IAG ran school holiday programs for $5 a day. SEEK set aside activity spaces, and Dexus used vacant floors in its own buildings.
My company offers a great school holiday program for kids in office. Different theme every day and kids are supervised by professionals and parents pay a tiny amount ($25 for the day! Way better than $150-170 per day at some holiday clubs) if they need to use it.
If companies want people back in the office, they can't turn a blind eye to childcare.
Common questions
Can I bring my child to work in the school holidays?
Ask your manager first. Half of our poll would accept it at least in an emergency. Most drew the line at how often it happens and whether the child disrupts the people around them.
Do any employers run school holiday programs?
Some do. IAG ran one for $5 a day before COVID, and one person told us their employer charges $25 a day for a supervised program in the office. Ask HR what exists before you book a holiday club.
This article draws on our Big Conversation Should kids be allowed in the office?, which has the original slides.
Source: The Aussie Corporate community poll, data as at September 2026. Spotted an error? Correct something.
