Parent-Child Office in Braunschweig: Science meets family-friendliness!

Parent-Child Office in Braunschweig: Science meets family-friendliness!

In August 2023, the Center for Process Engineering (PVZ) at the Technical University of Braunschweig opened a new parent-child office. The office aims to improve family-friendliness in everyday academic life and to promote flexible forms of work. Parents who have care responsibilities now have the opportunity to bring their children to work in emergency situations or if regular care is canceled at short notice. The child-friendly rooms offer a quiet work area that is suitable for both parents and their children, making it much easier to get work done.

The parent-child office, which was initiated by Iordania Constantinou, professor at the Institute of Microtechnology, is part of a larger initiative at TU Braunschweig. This initiative responds to current developments in the world of work, including the increase in home offices and flexible time models. The office is located in room 422 of the PVZ and can be easily booked using the Outlook calendar. The equipment is varied and age-appropriate:

Child-friendly equipment

• Für Kleinkinder gibt es Babyspielzeuge und einen Spielteppich.
• Kinder im Alter von zwei bis sechs Jahren finden zahlreiche Beschäftigungsmöglichkeiten.
• Ältere Kinder können mit Klemmbausteinen, Malutensilien und größeren Puzzles spielen.
• Ein Tripp-Trapp-Stuhl, zusammenklappbare Betten für kleine Kinder und ein Spielsofa für größere Kinder runden das Angebot ab.

In addition to the PVZ, comparable parent-child rooms are available at other university locations, including on the main campus and in the form of the “Still.Bar”. Special rooms have also been set up at Faculty 6 and at the research airport. Anne-Christin Eggers from the Family Office at TU Braunschweig points out that there may be independently established parent-child offices at various institutes, the existence of which is not always known.

A similar concept can also be found at companies like Kaufland, where the parent-child office serves as support for employees who combine family activities with their professional lives. Marina, an employee who recently became a mother, emphasizes how important this offer is for everyday work. She describes the rooms as well-equipped and child-friendly, with play facilities for children up to the age of four, a changing area and a selection of toys.

Family-friendliness in the working environment

The concept of the parent-child office was established in Germany in 2006 to offer an alternative to traditional childcare services. It represents a mixture of office equipment and childcare options and is implemented both by external providers and in companies. The equipment includes internet access, telephone connections and various game materials.

According to current surveys, only 17% of parents with underage children feel that they can combine work and family. Family-friendliness is often neglected, especially in male-dominated industries. In this context, it is becoming increasingly important for companies to recognize the economic value of parent-child offices. These initiatives can not only promote talent recruitment, but also help retain employees and reduce absenteeism.

With the hope that these innovative working models for parents will find wider acceptance, the parent-child office represents an important step towards a better balance between family and work. In the long term, such initiatives could help to ensure that parents have real freedom of choice in shaping their working lives.