One of the newest awareness days to hit the calendar is National Take Your Pet to Work Day. In 2018 this will be Friday, 22nd of June in the UK. The prime time to start preparing for this is now, if you are thinking of participating or even starting a pets at work policy full time. A pets at work policy needs to work for your business and for its employees. So, is there likely to be chaos in the cubicles on take your dog to work day or does a pets at work policy work?
Admittedly there are working situations where it is not practical to have a dog in tow, but in certain office environments, it can be feasible. An example of this is Nestlé Purina UK who encourage pets in the workplace through their PaW programme (pets at work policy). One of the company’s aims is to encourage 200 companies across Europe to embrace a similar type of policy by 2020.
Why introduce a pets at work policy?
A happy, relaxed employee will be motivated at work and will stay longer with a company. High employee turnover is never a good sign in any business. Smart employers know that losing good people costs them both in time and money. An article by HR Review1 indicated that employee turnover costs a company conservatively £30,000 every time an employee leaves. Ideas for businesses to keep staff content and engaged are varied and can include the following:
- Flexible working hours
- Telecommuting opportunities
- On-site child care
- Access to exercise facilities at lunchtime or after work
- A pets at work policy
Any benefits that offer employees a better work-life balance tend to be well received. Blue Cross, Pets at Home, and Dogs Trust are just a few of the UK companies that are keen to get pets involved. They believe that millennials especially (currently 18 – 34 years old) are influenced positively if there are dogs in the office. It doesn’t work for all, but for some companies, allowing staff the flexibility of having a pet at work can reap rewards.
What are the advantages of having a pets at work policy?
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. Simply 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. Regular comfort breaks and walking before work, at lunchtime, and after work get you moving more. These benefits are true for the dog owners among the staff but not for those members of staff 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. It 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 start a pets at work policy?
If you are thinking about implementing a pets-at-work policy there are several things to consider.
- Check whether there is a “no pets” policy in your office building.
- Start with a “Bring Your Pet to Work Day” before implementing a full pet at work policy. This allows you to see how having animals around affects your work environment without having to commit fully 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. The Nestlé Purina UK policy may be a good place to start.
- If you do 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 a pets at work policy 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 staff 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.
Make your commute enjoyable for you and your dog. Install a vehicle-specific dog guard in your car, so that you know your dog is comfortably positioned on the journey to and from work.
What to do when dogs don’t get along. Introduce the dogs to each other slowly. Have a plan prepared for what to do if dogs don’t get on with one another.
Consider dog temperaments and how they differ with breed and training. Think objectively about where your dog sits in terms of temperament and level of training.
Think about grooming. Make sure your dog is well groomed. A muddy pooch is not a good fit in a well-presented office environment.
Health and safety for dogs. 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. If your dog is ill, don’t take him to work.
Pay attention to physical needs. Make sure you have bowls for water and food 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.
Don’t leave your dog unattended for large periods of time. Do take the structure of your work day into consideration before bringing your dog to work and don’t let your dog wander.
Does your office welcome pets? If so, we’d love to hear your experiences.
References
- http://www.hrreview.co.uk/hr-news/recruitment/it-costs-over-30k-to-replace-a-staff-member/50677
