UPDATE: Indiana Governor Mike Braun just announced a groundbreaking “Family First Workplace” policy, allowing state employees to bring their infants to work until they are six months old. This urgent initiative aims to support new parents while maintaining workplace productivity, starting with the governor’s office and the Indiana Department of Health.
The policy, revealed on Tuesday, comes as new reports indicate that child care is a pressing issue for working families in Indiana. Usha Ranji, associate director of KFF’s Women’s Health Policy Program, emphasized that managing work alongside infant care is a significant challenge. “Taking care of a newborn is a full-time job,” Ranji stated. The program intends to boost morale and job satisfaction while helping parents bond with their newborns.
Infants eligible for the program include biological and adoptive children. Full-time state employees must have been employed at the time of the child’s birth, and coworkers are required to serve as alternative care providers for up to one hour each workday if needed. The spokesperson for the state personnel department, Kirollos Barsoum, noted that this initiative does not introduce new work-from-home options but offers a structured way to support new parents during critical early months.
Governor Braun declared, “Indiana is going to lead the nation in pro-family policy,” stressing the irreplaceable bonding that occurs during a child’s early life. The initiative seeks not just to support individual families but to foster a family-friendly culture in Indiana’s workforce.
However, the policy may only address immediate needs. According to the Economic Policy Institute, the average cost of child care in Indiana is a staggering $14,471 annually, surpassing college tuition in many cases. Currently, only 10.3% of Indiana families can afford child care, revealing a significant gap in support for working parents, particularly beyond the six-month period.
Ranji expressed skepticism about the long-term effectiveness of the policy, stating, “Child care needs to go well beyond six months or even the first year of life.” She highlighted that the lack of affordable, available, and quality child care remains a critical barrier for families. Moreover, she stressed the importance of comprehensive family policies, including paid parental leave, which remains a challenge despite recent advancements.
In March 2023, Governor Braun signed an executive order granting full-time state employees up to 150 hours of paid new parent leave, with part-time employees eligible for 75 hours. This policy includes provisions for those who undergo cesarean deliveries, aiming to ease the transition into parenthood.
Experts like Michael Hicks, director of the Center for Business and Economic Research at Ball State University, recognize the potential benefits of allowing infants in the workplace but question the productivity implications. “Having policies that make it easier for families to form and participate in the labor force are integral to our economy,” Hicks noted. However, he warned that recent cuts to child care subsidies could lead to closures of up to one in four child care facilities in Indiana by 2026, exacerbating the existing crisis.
The discussion around Indiana’s new policy is ongoing, as community leaders and experts analyze its impact. “Policies that support parents in the workplace are essential for the state’s economic health,” Hicks added, cautioning against the potential long-term consequences of not addressing the broader child care crisis.
As this policy rolls out, all eyes will be on Indiana to see how it affects working families and whether it can serve as a model for other states facing similar challenges. The urgent conversation around supporting parents in the workplace continues, highlighting the pressing need for comprehensive family support systems.
