Pets In The Office: What Are The Benefits?
At first, the presence of pets in the office may seem strange. However, in recent years this has become a trend due to the benefits it brings to both the animal and the work environment.
Some of the most famous companies that have joined this initiative are Google, Mars, Cabify or Nestlé Purina. The latter, in fact, is part of the Pets at Work program , which aims to encourage employers and employees to work in a more “natural” way.
Many dog owners report that they are interested in having pets in the office. Nonetheless, the reality is that currently only a very small percentage enjoy these conditions.
Proven benefits
- Create healthier work environments by reducing stress and promoting social integration of employees.
- It allows a reconciliation between personal and professional life. In this case, both the owner and the pet himself are favorites. In fact, pet owners work with the guarantee that their pet is not neglected.
- It improves the image of the company, at the level of the consumer, of the employees and of the competition to be understood as a vision of the future.
- Facilitates the motivation and dynamics of the company, key factors in the business context.
Possible difficulties with the presence of pets in the office
- Allergies. In fact, it is better to establish a minimum distance of five meters between the animal and the person with allergies. If necessary, make sure the pet stays near the owner’s desk.
- Noise, lack of concentration. Before taking your dog to work, you should make sure that he behaves correctly. Animals must be able to socialize with other employees without disturbing the business dynamics.
- Hygiene. As in the previous section, owners are responsible for the cleanliness of their pets. They must make sure they have no parasite problems and must be up to date with any vaccinations. As for urine or feces dirt, good preliminary training usually eliminates this problem.
- Respect restricted areas. While a company may allow pets to access its facilities, some public areas such as bathrooms, cafes, meeting rooms… usually restrict entry. The early creation of pet-friendly areas and compliance with internal regulations helps more and more companies to incorporate this initiative.
What the data say
Unfortunately, there are still some, both at the management and at the employee level, who disagree about the presence of pets in the workplace. Some argue that they contribute to the distraction of work. However, the truth is that more than one study shows the benefits. Among them, the following stand out:
- The Central Michigan Universal analyzed in 2010 as the presence of pets in the office has facilitated the link between employees and improved the atmosphere in the workplace.
- The Virginia Commonwealth University found that the stress of workers carrying their pets to work decreased by 11% compared to a 70% increase in the stress of other employees.
Based on these statistics, it seems that the insertion of animals in new contexts can be interesting and beneficial.
For example, society is used to the image of police dogs and guide dogs for the blind or disabled because of the advantages they offer. Indeed, it is promising to see that their previously questioned access to canteens, transport and even offices has become a reality today.
