Having a pet-friendly office can boost motivation and wellbeing across your workforce
According to research, dogs offer social support and can help to reduce stress, increase cognitive abilities and social interaction, and can counteract depression and anxiety; for employees in the workplace this results in greater productivity and a boost in morale. According to The Kennel Club, 33% of people say that dogs improve productivity and 70% believe dogs alleviate stress in the workplace.
It seems that they can also help businesses to recruit and retain staff. For job seekers that already own a dog, 45% say that dogs make an organisation more attractive to them; however, only 25% of those that don’t own a dog see them as an appealing office accessory!
How to make your dog office-friendly
Dogs can be brought into the office in two main ways. You can have an ‘official’ office dog to be in there on certain days of the week or you can open the office for employees to bring their own dogs in. Make sure your office is dog-ready by thinking about the following things:
Creating an application process to ensure the dogs are office-ready.
Using dog gates to create smaller play spaces away from busy workspaces.
Providing easy access to clean water, food and waste bags.
If possible, find an outdoor space near your workspace.
If necessary, make it a rule that dogs are kept on a lead.
Whilst there are concerns that dogs in the office may be a distraction, research shows that employees who bring their dogs to work report high levels of concentration, dedication and work engagement – and, for workplace solutions suppliers, having dogs in the workplace introduces an interesting sales opportunity. Dog products, food and accessories such as beds, gates, toys and treats can all be offered to dog-friendly workplaces.
Perhaps launching an office dog package could be the next workplace solutions trend!
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