Pets in the Workplace – Purrfectly Fine or Faux-Paw?

For many people, pets are an integral part of their lives. Pets tend to bring joy, companionship, and a sense of comfort to their owners. It’s not surprising that some pet owners would like to bring their furry friends to work with them because of how much happiness they bring to others.

Bringing pets to work is becoming increasingly popular for good reasons. Having pets around can be a way to improve workplace morale, reduce stress, and boost productivity. Here are some benefits of having or introducing pets into the workplace:

• Reduced stress: Studies have shown there merely petting a cat or a dog can reduce stress, especially in a workplace environment. Decreasing the production of cortisol, which is the stress hormone, can have long-term health benefits for many people. Having furry companions in the office can also help boost employee morale and keep employees happy and motivated throughout the day.
• Improve Communication: Bringing a pet to work can help employees connect with one another and create a sense of community. Pets can be a great conversation starter and can help strengthen the relationships between employees. This can lead to improved communication, collaboration, and teamwork.
• Improve employee health: Promote a healthy work environment by encouraging walks and playtime for pets during breaks. Remembering to step away from your work and take regular breaks can help you stay refreshed, focused, and productive during the workday. Having pets at work can encourage physical activity in order to help keep employees healthy and happy.
• Improve Recruiting: Pets in the office can be considered a major perk. According to the ASPCA, as many as 23 million American households adopted a pet during the pandemic. Allowing pets to come into the office could be a major selling point during the recruitment process and can also allow your employees to save money on pet daycare fees. It can also reduce the stress of having to leave your new pet at home all day and rushing out of the office as soon as possible.

As you can see, there are many great reasons to have pets in the office. On the other hand, there may also be reasons why this may not be such a good idea. Pet allergies are quite common and could cause considerable discomfort for some of your employees. Your work environment simply may not be safe and secure enough for pets either. Whether you decide to have a dedicated area for them or allow them to stay in work areas with employees, there are many hazards that are not conducive to having pets in the workplace. It’s important to consider both the safety of employees and their pets before introducing them into the office. Finally, accidents are bound to happen when there are pets around, which could make cleaning costs rise. It can be a good idea to stock up and have some spot cleaner handy, just in case things get a little messy.

Whether you are in the office or at home, pets can bring lots of joy and happiness to those they surround. There can be many benefits to having pets in the office, including an increase in company morale, reduced stress levels, and better communication. If your office has been considering this decision or thinks it would be a positive experience, take the leap (in small steps). Starting out small can be a great way to introduce this concept to employees and convince them that it can be a good idea. Having a few pets in the office once per week or dedicating days for employees to bring in their furry friends can be the slow start that is needed. Remember to take an anonymous poll to ensure that everyone is on board and won’t be bothered by little paws roaming around. Lastly, try to keep track of how things change around the office and if the culture seems better with the addition of furry faces. You might become surprised!