Even before Bec Burtill's baby daughter was born, her 26-year-old mother was frantically searching for childcare so she could return to work.
By offering the option of bringing her daughter to work, Ms Burtill's boss threw her a lifeline.
It's now four months since Mackay Mackay returned to part-time sales work in North Queensland.
And so far, so good.
According to the Small Business Association of Australia, small businesses like the one where Ms Burtill works have had to adapt and be flexible for some time.
A family-run funeral home in Sarina has hatched a plan to offer flexible childcare arrangements to support mothers returning to the workforce.
Why not see why not, said funeral director Ashlee Sorensen.
She said she was inspired by countless social media posts by parents discussing their struggle to get their young children into childcare, with long wait times and national workforce shortages.
She said she's received multiple applications for a part-time role.
She said that life has changed for the better.
In Australian workplaces, however, this approach remains an exception due to factors such as health and safety, productivity, and child safety.
Curtin University's faculty of business and law said looking after children in the workplace was more common overseas.
Professor Richardson said that office spaces could easily be transformed to accommodate children if required, but it was something that required careful management.
The University of Queensland's School of Law and associate professor Paul Harpur, said offices were the most suitable workplaces to incorporate children.
's a manageable risk,' said Dr Harpur.
But it also comes with a caveat.
Rachael Potter, from the University of South Australia, said flexible working arrangements could be a double-edged sword.
It's getting more difficult to have her at work... she's on the move and standing... and it's going to get even more difficult as she gets older, Ms Burtill said.