First, participate wholeheartedly in the day and its underlying meaning. Employees' childred symbolize the continuity of the community. Their actions and concern for their positive future often dominate the thoughs and feelings of employees and have a direct effect on their ability to be productive at work.

A special day for employees to show their children first hand what they do at work can build morale and provide a way for employees to demonstrate pride in what they do.

Second, the day is formally declared "Take Your Daughters to Work Day." However, it should definately include sons too.

The HR Doctor is also the HR "Daddy" of two beautiful daughters, Elyse and Rachel, who have learned a great deal about life, public service and managment by participating in the work life of their father and mother.

The original purpose of "Take Your Daughters to Work Day" was to provide a tool to help enhance the self-esteem of girls. The American Association of University Women and others have documented the need for more such tools in out society and the HR Doctor agrees. However, more can be accomplished toward the goal of building self-esteem for girls but demonstrating the many opportunities for success available to girls and boys who work and serve with honor.

The HR Doctor's experience is that can be best demonstrated by a special program which is attended by boys and girls together.

Third, create a special organization-wide program, with HR assigned as team coordinator.

One county has conducted such a program for years and last year had 500 children participate in the events. The children spent the first part of their day with their mothers or fathers at work in the various agencies of the county.

Many agencies organized meetings and demonstrations at the local work site, so the childern could understand the work of their parents and how that work contributed to the agency's success. Some included lunch or a picnic.

For others, the treat of lunch meant spending time at a restaurant during the work day. After lunch, all the children from all of the agencies were invited to assemble in an auditorium borrowed from the beautiful Performing Arts Center. The children were greeted by a folk singer and storyteller. After that, for an hour in talk show format, children were asked about their career goals and what they thought would be required to be successful.

The children were introduced to successful employees representing the many of the same career areas identified by the children. The county presented successful female role models to help deliver a message to all the children that gender is not the obstacle to success that it used to be at work. Children filled out a littel workbook on self-esteem and participated in drawings to win prizes which had been donated by county executives and supportive local buinesses. Care was also taken to ensure that some positive souvenir of the day was available to every child.

Following the formal program, parents and their children walked back from the Performing Arts Center to the main government offices together and used the two block walk -- or in some cases the wheelchair roll -- as the time to disucss what had been learned.

Obvious precautions were taken in planning the event, including making sre that the workplace was even more clean and safe than usual. Children were not allowed to ride in county vehicles or on heavy equipment. Children were prhibited from entering certain work areas where the work was inherently dangerous.

Everyone at work, including employees with no children, found the day to be exciting and different. Employees were talking about it before the event happenned and afterwards. It definately contributed to morale and people are already looking forward to next year's event.

Direct costs to the organization are minor but direct morale benefits are great. The HR Doctor recommends that "Take Your Children to Work Day" became an annual event in every county in America. Most schools allow excused absences for children on this day because they recognize the educational value of what can take place.

By the way, don't have a child? Perhaps you have a grandchild or a neice or nephew. Perhaps a foster child or child orphaned and living in a great institutions such as an S.O.S. Children's Village. You can arrange for an outing for such a child on "Take Your Children to Work Day"

You can contact the HR Doctor at the e-mail address below at any time to dicuss an HR Doctor "house call" or help with any HR problems. Best wishes.

Phil, Rosenberg
HR Doctor
philrosenberg@prodigy.net

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