Your Guide to Implementing A Pet-Friendly Office
Work can be stressful. From impatient clients to high-strung managers, you may find yourself counting the minutes until you can get home to your pet. But what if you could take your pet to work with you?
It turns out pet-friendly offices are a growing trend. They have all sorts of benefits, and some have even argued that they improve the bottom line. Of course, there are a few safety and health considerations that have to be taken into place before making any proposals.
If you want to propose a pet-friendly work environment in your office, make sure you understand the pros and cons.
The Pros:
Mood Regulation – When people pet animals, serotonin is released. Serotonin is known to regulate moods and social behavior while also improving memory. These are all things that will enhance workflow in an office.- Stress Reduction – Pets have been found to reduce stress and lower blood pressure, which hopefully doesn’t give your boss an excuse to lay it on thicker with when they adopt a pet-friendly workplace. It does, however, mean that employees have a built-in coping mechanism for the stresses of their jobs which will, in turn, allow them to focus on their work instead of their anxieties.
- Improved Skills – Having pets at work has been linked to increased verbal comprehension and interactive problem-solving skills. This means that there is a direct link to improved functionality at work.
- Improve the Bottom Line – Pets can even help improve the bottom line by making the company more attractive to new employees while helping maintain current employees. This helps lower turnover rates.
The Cons:
- Allergies – There are significant health considerations to take before adopting a pet-friendly office. Some employees may be allergic to pet dandruff or saliva, limiting or sometimes even eliminating, the possibilities for a pet-friendly office.
- Safety – There are some safety precautions to take into account. Wandering dogs and cats can trip unsuspecting feet roaming through the office. Workplace injuries are nothing to be taken lightly!
- Damage – There’s always the possibility of equipment being damaged. This one is really on a pet by pet basis but shouldn’t be ignored.
Of course, the good news is that all of these issues can be countered with a good pet policy for your office. While every business is different and every office has its own needs, here’s an example pet policy to be your launching point. Show this to your manager, or adapt this policy to your business to improve overall morale while increasing the bottom line!
Do you work in a pet-friendly office? Do you know someone who does? Share your experience with us!