Of the many holidays scheduled throughout the year, one of the newest to hit the calendar is National Take Your Pet to Work Day. In the US this is scheduled for June 23rd in 2017. If your company is considering getting involved in this or implementing a full pets-at-work policy, now might be the prime time to start preparing to make it work for your business and its employees.
Increasingly businesses across the US are becoming more dog friendly. According to the US pet food company, Purina, although around 72% of companies do not allow employees to bring their pets to work, it is anticipated that this could change in coming years as some employers are seeing specific advantages from introducing this additional employee benefit. Admittedly there are many working situations where it simply is not practical to have a dog in tow, but in certain office environments, it can be a feasible option.
Why become dog friendly?
A happy, relaxed employee is more likely to be motivated at work and more likely to stay with a company for longer. High employee turnover is never a good sign in any organization and smart employers know that losing good people costs them both in time and money. A recent article by Julie Kantor1 indicated that employee turnover costs a company conservatively between $15,000 and $25,000 every time an employee on a low salary leaves to go elsewhere and this amount ratchets up quickly with higher salaried employees. It stands to reason that employers who show employees that they are valued are likely to get more respect and a better work ethic in return. Ideas for businesses to keep staff content and engaged are varied and can include the following:
- flexible working hours
- benefits such as good healthcare coverage
- telecommuting opportunities
- on-site child care
- access to exercise facilities at lunch time or after work
- a pets-at-work policy
Any benefits that offer employees a better work-life balance tend to be well received. Amazon, Etsy, Google, Bissell, Clif Bar and Petco are just a few of the US companies that are keen to get pets involved. They believe that millennials especially (currently aged between 18 and 34 years old) are influenced in a positive way if there are dogs in the office. One company (the BrewDog brewery in Columbus, Ohio) has even introduced a paid parental leave plan for employees who are welcoming a new puppy into their homes. Following the parental leave, they are then permitted to bring the pup to work.
It doesn’t work for all, but for some companies, allowing staff this flexibility of having a pet at work can reap rewards.
What are the advantages of having dogs at work?
Benefits of having dogs at work can include some of the following:
A happier and healthier workforce. Employees with pets at the desk are less likely to suffer from depression as petting a dog releases endorphins, reducing anxiety in the owner. Having a dog around also encourages more physical activity. With a dog at your feet, you have to get active during the day, by taking regular comfort breaks and walking before work, at lunchtime, and after work. These benefits are really only true for the dog owners among the staff and not necessarily applicable to those without pets.
Dogs get to spend more time with their owners and vice versa. When you add your commute time to your working day, chances are you are away from your home for a lot longer than you may realize. Many pet owners who work full time will hire dog walkers to take the dog out for a walk during the day, but even with that special attention it is usually only for a short amount of time during the day, so your dog is likely to be lonely and miss your presence. If your dog is with you, he may be less stressed and you can also relax knowing that he is in your care.
Increased social interaction. Having a pet around can break the ice between co-workers and can also help to improve communication between staff at different levels. If there are other dogs in the office, your dog may get the opportunity to socialize more with other dogs.
How can employers get this policy started?
If you are thinking about implementing a pets-at-work policy there are several things to consider from the outset.
- It’s not always easy to get commercial real estate that allows pets to be on the premises, so be sure there isn’t a “no-pets” policy in your building.
- If you are thinking about adopting a pets-at-work policy at your workplace, a good way to start could be with a “Bring Your Pet to Work Day.” This allows you to see how having animals around affects your work environment without having to commit to a full pet-friendly policy from the outset.
- Talk to other organizations that have a pets-at-work policy and find out from them what works, what hasn’t worked, and why.
- If you decide to invite pets into your workplace, be prepared to make revisions to the policy as you experience different situations during a working week or month.
How can employees make it work?
If the company gives the idea of dogs at work the go-ahead, employees who want to bring dogs should think about the best approach to ensure that they and the company can capture all the positive benefits.
Will it be OK with all coworkers in the office? Some people are allergic to dogs, whereas others are downright fearful, so it’s important to be respectful of all employees needs.
What to do when dogs don’t get along. Chances are there will be plenty of other dogs at the office too. If there are, introduce them slowly. Not all will get on with one another, so be prepared for that and have a plan on what to do should that be the case.
Consider dog temperaments and how they differ with breed and training. Some dogs are too stressed in new settings to cope with going into a work environment, whereas others are fairly laid back and could fit in anywhere. Think realistically and objectively about where your dog sits on this scale in terms of temperament and level of training.
Think about grooming. In the same way that you take a shower and dress appropriately for work, you should take a similar approach with your dog. Make sure he is groomed as well as he can be – a muddy pooch may not be a good fit in a well-presented office environment.
Health and safety for dogs. Ensure that the office environment is as hazard-free as possible. Make sure that any choking hazards are out of the way of the pets, and there is no chance of them chewing on cables, plants or anything else that could be dangerous. Ensure all pet vaccinations are up to date. This is vital, to ensure that pets stay healthy when coming into contact with other dogs. Do not take a sick dog to work. You don’t know how that is going to play out, and this can be made worse when introducing him into a more stressful environment.
Don’t let him wander. Although your dog wouldn’t be on a leash at home, this is not the same kind of environment. You need to know where your dog is at every point during the day and the best way of doing that is keeping him tethered.
Pay attention to physical needs. Your dog will require regular attention during your time at work. Make sure you have dishes for water and food with you and some (preferably non-squeaky) toys for distraction. Take your dog for frequent excursions outside, so that he can relieve himself and so he doesn’t get overly restless being cooped up in an office environment all day. Again, this is a time to consider whether your dog’s breed can tolerate being inside an office for a long period of time.
Don’t leave your dog unattended for large periods of time. This can be difficult if you are likely to be attending lengthy meetings, so take that into consideration before bringing your dog to work.
Do you think having your pet at work would make you more productive? If you work somewhere that already welcomes pets in the workplace, we’d love to hear about your experiences.
Reference
- Kantor J. Want to Keep Your Millenials – Mentor Them. Huff Post. December 18, 2016
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