With the rise of pet-friendly restaurants and hotels, surely we’re not far off from having pet-friendly workplaces, too? Recent studies have shown that companies where the staff are encouraged to bring their pets to work experience an increase in productivity as well as overall morale. We’re completely on board with the idea!
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This week, we’re celebrating “Take Your Dog To Work Day” which has recently turned into a full week where companies encourage their staff to bring Fido with them to the office. The idea was originally created by Pet Sitters International to celebrate the great companions dogs make and to help promote pet adoptions. The annual event takes place from the 17th to the 21st of June and was first celebrated in 1999. An estimated 300 businesses participate in TYDTWD and many more companies are pet-friendly all year round. The result? Their employees reap the rewards of an office filled with wagging tails and high spirits.
According to research by Waltham Research Centre for Pet Nutrition, allowing dogs in the workplace has a very positive impact on employees.
These are some of the benefits of pet-friendly policies at work:
- Improved employee morale
- Reduced stress
- Improved work-life balance
- Greater loyalty to the company
- Reduced guilt for pet owners who normally leave their dogs at home
- Increased team bonding
- Increased productivity
- Higher chances of healthy living
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Keeping your pet with you
As a result of pets no longer being left at home, the added worry about the well-being of pets is reduced. Employees are also able to work longer hours because they don’t have to rush home to check on their animals and you can enjoy regular walks outside when your dog needs to get some fresh air. You’ll both return feeling calmer, more refreshed and engaged.
Companies where it’s always “Take Your Pet to Work Day”
- Amazon (more than 6 000 dogs accompany their owners to work)
- Mars
- Build-a-Bear
- Zynga
- Airbnb
And RunwaySale in Cape Town offers a pet-friendly environment to their workers.
Steps to take before you bring your pet to work:
- Make sure your pets are healthy and vaccinated
- Pets must be introduced to the new environment slowly
- Pets should be well trained and non-aggressive
- Pets should be socialised; comfortable interacting with other people and dogs
- Pets should be controllable
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Because of the many benefits to employees and company owners alike, we can’t imagine why business wouldn’t encourage their workers to bring their pets to work. If not every day, then at least during the much-celebrated TYDTWD. Fingers crossed, more and more businesses will be signing up to this wonderful initiative – we’re first in line!
Compiled by Alice Lilley
