We all have our own ways to de-stress from work. Some of us listen to music, eat nutritious snacks or create an ergonomic workspace. However, did you know that pets at the workplace can also serve the same purpose? More companies are allowing employees to bring their pets to work.
There are many ways bringing your pets to work can increase productivity for everyone. With that said, how do their presence provide us benefits and what do you need to take note when bringing pets to your workplace?
Physically & Mentally Positive
The presence of pets can bring positive benefits to your health physically and mentally.
For instance, a study showed that employees who took their dogs to work experienced lower stress levels throughout the work day and had a more positive perception of their employer, along with higher levels of job satisfaction. Another found that a pet-friendly workplace helps boost productivity and encourages interaction between people.
It’s interesting how these benefits can also lead to a better quality of life. Take it this way: When you are less stressed, there is a decrease in blood pressure. With less stress-related ailments, you will save on healthcare expenses as well. With a boost in morale through interaction with pets, you would find yourself being more proactive at work.
Employers and employees from Inverse-Square have stated how having pets around has helped them pass long work hours happily, and the pets remind them to take necessary breaks. This essentially shows the positive impact pets can have by just being around people who need them the most.
Business Positive
On the business side, did you also know that you can be rewarded for bringing your pets to work? In the U.S, companies such as Amazon and Google have pet-friendly policies, similar to a number of other companies such as Nestle Purina and Ticketmaster. A notable company, BrewDog, a craft brewer in Columbus, Ohio, is offering up to a week of paid time off for new pet owners, known as “pawternity leave”.
A survey conducted by LiveCareer highlighted employees using pet-friendly policies as criteria for taking a job, including their level of commitment to it:
- 52% of respondents said that they would consider an employer that offers pet-friendly benefits and policies
- 49% of respondents are convinced to take up a job offer if they offer a pet-friendly work environment
- 41% of respondents would have a better sense of satisfaction if they had pets in the office
- 49% of respondents would have recommend their employer to a friend if they allowed pets in the workplace
With this in mind, it is safe to say that the popularity of pet-friendly workplaces is only increasing, and it is a “paw-some” sight to see!
Precautions for Employers & Employees
Having pets around can be fun. However, precautions must be taken to ensure everyone’s safety at the workplace. There are many factors to be considered since you are bringing your pet to a different environment. As a result, they may not be very comfortable at the beginning.
A very important factor is to ensure that your pet is well-trained and behaved. As they are heading to a new environment, they will meet new people and animals. The unintended stress can lead to unusual and destructive behaviour.
So with that said, how do we exercise responsibility when our pets are in our workplace?
Employers
As employers, your responsibility is to ensure everyone is in a healthy work environment. These include:
- Creation of Pet-related Policies
- Potential Sensitivities within Workplace
- Extra Considerations
Creation of Pet-related Policies
Employers need to create policies to ensure that everyone is treated equally in the event that something goes wrong. For example, an employee’s pet may possibly injure someone else or injure themselves. To prevent further conflicts and possible charges, creation of policies are needed.
For instance, employers may state a policy in place that sets out clear responsibility for any damage or injury. In addition, they may also provide rules stating the number of pets you can bring, the kind of pets allowed, and so on.
For example, Hootsuite, a social media management platform, assumes no responsibility for pets on the premises and has guidelines specifically stating that “employees are financially responsible for any damage or cleaning to facilities; including damage from accidents, excessive pet hair and odour removal as required.” They also mentioned that the dog must be six months and older, properly licensed, insured, vaccinated and potty trained. They must also be kept on a leash, to stay off the furniture, use a pet-designated elevator and play in one of the outdoor spaces nearby.
Potential Sensitivities Within Workplace
The well-being of your employees is always your first priority. Understanding their feelings towards having pets within the workplace allows you to have ideas to accommodate them.
For instance, it is good to know if anyone has an allergy history to pets. Common ways to accommodate employees who are allergic is to essentially have the pets be kept in certain areas of the building away from the allergic employees.
Extra Considerations
As pet lovers, let’s not forget the price we have to pay to take care of these adorable creatures. There can be additional costs for pet care, pet-proofing office. These costs range from $500-$1500 a year for one pet per year.
Including pets in the workplace requires employers to take on some of these costs, such as the toys, treats and any miscellaneous accidental damage that naturally occurs when caring for pets.
Employees
As employees, you must also be aware of your surroundings when it comes to bringing your pet.
Ensure that your pet has been:
- Potty-trained
- Well-trained and behaved
- Vaccinated and licenced (most important for dogs)
- Keep it on a leash
- Well-fed
It is your responsibility to take good care of your pet, avoid it from having conflicts with other animals and humans when possible, and always provide them with meals.
Apart from that, do not forget about the well-being of your co-workers. Ask if they have any allergies to certain pets, and respect their space if they do. It is advisable to be patient with the process if your pet feels nervous attempting to interact with new people and animals. They can also be like us, taking their time to warm up to everyone else. Once your pet gets used to the environment, it would be a pleasing sight.
Of course, you shouldn’t force them to adjust to a certain environment. There are some pets that prefer to stay within the comforts of their home, and it is understandable as to why they would. From my personal experience, I’ve tried walking my cats out years back, and they ended up just crawling like turtles! So I believe they are okay with it if you leave them resting at home, they’ll appreciate you just as much once you make your way home safely.
A Purrific Trend
It is an amazing sight to see how pets have been integrated into our society. They may not be working the jobs we do, but to have them present by our side, makes things all the more wholesome!
It is only a matter of time until we see more and more companies adopting their own pet-policies. Until then, keep appreciating the pets you have, and remind them how much you love them.
