Being greeted by a friendly canine smile after a long day at work is great, but wouldn’t it be even better to spend your 9-5 hours with your furry friend?
Apart from being adorable eye-candy, allowing ‘man’s best friend’ into workplaces has other great benefits and research has shown that stress levels amongst employees in pet-friendly offices are significantly lower1. Here are the top reasons why we should all start embracing dog friendly offices.
1. They boost morale
When a pup comes skittering along to say ‘Hello’, it’s hard to not get a boost of energy, their optimism is infectious! Findings have shown that furry colleagues bring positivity and increase morale in the workplace2. It is no surprise that having a constantly pleased dog around relieves tensions and increases the overall mood in the office.
2. They reduce stress
Stress is a major cause of lack of motivation, burnout and un-productivity amongst employees. Dogs have a calming effect and offer a distraction when work becomes overwhelming. Their cuteness will not only put a smile on your face but also has a bunch of medical powers and dog companionship has been proven to lower cholesterol and blood pressure3.
3. They make employees interact
With their constant smile, waggling tale and curious sniffing, it is hard to resist to stop and give Bella a pat! This is also a great excuse to have a chat to a fellow employee you haven’t mingled with before. In big offices with many employees it is hard to get to know everyone, however having an office dog works as a bonding point and make people interact more, ultimately creating a healthier work environment.
4. They reduce turnover
Apart from benefitting employees, dogs in offices can in fact help the business at large. Studies have shown that employees value the companion of dogs highly and are more likely to stay at their workplace if it is pet-friendly2. Providing this as a bonus for potential employees could attract those hard-to-get talents.
5. They increase productivity
Are you the typical workaholic who checks your emails first thing in the morning and thinks being chained to your desk is the key to success? Think again! Taking short breaks throughout the day even just to stretch your legs has been proven to increase productivity3. And what break is better than rubbing a pup’s belly or going out for a walk? Dogs in offices work as a reminder for employees to take their eyes off their screen to get up and recharge.
6. They make employees trust each other
How could you ever bare being rude to anyone after looking into a dog’s innocent eyes? Dogs are known to give everyone an equal amount of love and attention. Humans, who at times are rather secluding in nature, have a lot to learn from our canine friends and studies have shown that employees are nicer and more trusting to each other if they get a daily dose of pup love5.
And if you are going to bring ol' four legs into work, it might be worth thinking about somewhere they can call 'home' while there, like this suspended trampoline bed, for instance. Comfy!
