Would you be more excited about going to work if you could bring your furry friend with you? According to a Wellness® Natural Pet Food survey, people consider having pets in the workplace a good stress reliever and morale booster. But what’s the best way to create a pet-friendly office so that everyone, humans and furry co-workers, can thrive?
Pet-Friendly Companies Are Getting Big
Once upon a time, bringing your dog or cat to work with you was unheard of. Therefore, your pet was destined to stay home alone for 8 hours or more a day while you slogged away at the office.
But today, there’s a different story in the making. Many companies are rewriting the book on pets in the workplace. For one thing, employers in some companies now design and intentionally think about a plan to include employees’ furry family members in the office.
You might even find a section in your company handbook devoted to bringing your pets to work. PR Newswire reported on the survey from Wellness® Natural Pet Food and listed several big-name companies that are pet-friendly. Included in the top ten were Amazon, Ben & Jerry’s, Ticketmaster, and TripAdvisor.
But dig deep and you’ll get a better understanding of why these mega companies are welcoming pets with open arms. It’s not just because they love dogs and cats. There has to be something in it for them, right? As it turns out, there are quite a few benefits to having a pet-friendly workplace.
Five Benefits of Bringing Pets to Work
Are you an employer considering making your company pet-friendly? Or perhaps you’re someone who wants to convince your boss to welcome dogs and cats, and you need to create a solid case. Either way, understanding the benefits of a pet-friendly workplace is a good place to start.
1. Pets at Work Can Reduce Stress
A study by Virginia Commonwealth University found that having dogs at work plays a role in reducing stress among employees. Overall, pets increase morale, boost well-being, and help put people at ease.
Plus, when you have your pet at work with you, you don’t spend any time worrying about what they’re getting into back at home. You also don't have the stress of worrying about leaving your pet alone for too long, scheduling dog walkers or pet sitters, etc.
2. A Pet-Friendly Workplace Encourages Collaboration
When stress levels decrease and morale goes up, it creates a more positive work environment, conducive to increased collaboration. Employers can benefit from getting a team of employees who work together and bounce ideas off of one another.
3. Team Members Are More Productive
Do you ever have to miss work because of your pet? Maybe your pet’s recovering from surgery so you have to stay home to watch them. Or perhaps you can’t find a dog walker, so you need to leave work for an hour to take care of business (well, let your dog take care of their business).
If your pet is at work with you, these potential issues dissolve. Plus, when you consider the other benefits of pets in the workplace, like reduced stress and improved collaboration, these things also contribute to more productivity.
4. Allowing Pets at Work Can Be a Good Retention Tool
Employers can use fostering a pet-friendly workplace as a way to recruit and retain employees. Pet parents are drawn to a place that welcomes pets. Furthermore, even many people without pets enjoy the idea of having a few furry faces around the office or working with animals.
5. Improved Communication Between Coworkers and Customers
A report on dogs in the workplace in the journal Animals found that pets were a great icebreaker between customers and employees. Animals also helped coworkers engage more in conversation and be more relaxed with each other.
For example, people from one department would venture over to another to see one of the dogs. Before having a dog there, these employees may have never had a reason to go to this other department or meet people in a different office.
How to Introduce Your Pet to Your Workplace
Okay, so your job has decided to invite pets into the office. You get to bring Fido or Fifi to work with you, but that doesn’t mean everything’s going to go smoothly. You need to think about your pet first.
If your pet is a people-person, gets along well with other animals, and is well-behaved, then bringing them along for a full day of work might be fine. However, if your pet (or you) is a bit tentative, take it slow.
Let Your Pet Ease Into the Situation
Make arrangements to bring your pet to your office for a short period, simply to allow them a chance to investigate the environment. Let them meet the people you work the most closely with.
Reward them with plenty of tasty treats throughout the process to develop positive associations. See how your pet reacts and adjust your timeline from there. If things are going well, stay longer next time, gradually increasing the time your pet is with you at work until they can stick around for a full day.
Set Up a Safe Space for Your Pet
Create a designated zone for your pet at your office. Include a comfy bed, preferably with familiar toys and scents from home (like one of your old T-shirts).
Provide food and fresh water for your pet, and make sure the area they’re in is as quiet and secure as possible. It’s essential that your pet feels safe and sound, but also make sure they’re near to you.
Create a Pet Station at Work
If your office becomes pet-friendly, make sure you accommodate more pets. This might include a fresh water area to refill pet bowls.
Add a designated spot outside for dogs to potty or have a play area. Maybe there’s a cat condo or cat tree in a certain corner of the office for the company felines to exercise and flex their claws.
These Products Make Bringing Your Pet to Work Easier
Several products can help your pet transition to the workplace.
- Calming products, like Adaptil collars or diffusers, create a relaxed ambiance.
- A treat licking mat soothes your pet as they adjust to their new environment.
- Use interactive toys to keep pets mentally stimulated and entertained when you’re working.
- A portable pet bed and collapsible water and food bowls are also ideal if you can’t leave your pet’s zone in a permanent spot. (For example, you don’t have a designated office and your work area could change each day.)
- Consider waste management for multiple pets. If you’re going to work somewhere where there are several dogs, it’s a good idea to make picking up pet waste simple. Something like the Lift N’ Bag makes it easy to scoop multiple piles of poop.
Things to Keep in Mind Before You Bring Your Pet to Work
As beneficial as having pets at work is, there are several potential downsides that you need to consider. For example, one study assesses several drawbacks to pets at work, including dog bites, trip and fall hazards, and allergies.
These disadvantages aren’t necessarily deal breakers or reasons to prohibit pets completely. Instead, it’s important to understand the possible issues that could arise so you can make allowances for them in your company’s pet policy.
Overall, the benefits of pets in the workplace seem to provide big positives for companies and their employees. What do you think? Would your pet like to spend the workday with you? Let us know! Check out the rest of the Neater Pets blog to learn more about taking the best care of your pets.