5 Reasons Companies Are Opening The Door to Pets at Work

June 23, 2017 will be the 19th national Take Your Dog to Work Day, when companies around the country encourage (or at least allow) their employees to bring pets to sit by their desks as they go about their daily jobs. The holiday has proved wildly popular with dog owners over the years, and surprisingly successful with co-workers as well, both four- and two-legged. In fact, many companies—seven percent of employers allow pets to come to work with their owners, and the percentage is rising, according to the Society of Human Resource Management—have found that the presence of animals in the workplace, far from being a distraction, has numerous and profound benefits. Here are a few of them:

1. Pets Reduce Stress  There’s something soothing about animals. Studies have shown that petting a dog or cat lowers a person’s blood pressure; just watching fish in an aquarium can deliver the same result.  What’s more, being in the presence of a pet has a calming effect that reduces the stress of high-pressure situations, including work-related tasks.
2. Pets Make for a Better Workplace Environment   Zuke’s, of Durango, Colorado, is a pet-friendly workplace, with an average 2.5:1 staff to pet ratio. “Having them by our side makes us happy, lowers our stress levels, and creates an environment that is comfortable, open, and flexible,” says Chris Meiering, Zuke’s’s Director of Innovation. “Their presence really builds camaraderie in the office. What’s more, “Employees feel supported and have a better perception of their employers if they can bring their pets to work. They are also more likely to collaborate and work better in teams because pets help forge social connections.” According to Steven Feldman, executive director of the Human Animal Bond Research Initiative (HABRI) Foundation in Washington, D.C.
3. Pets Improve Health   The American Heart Association found that owning a pet may reduce your risk of heart disease, through lowered blood pressure, associated exercise and reduced stress. Other studies found that pet ownership helps combat depression, allergies and make extend your life.
4. Pets Make People More Productive   Lower stress can lead to higher productivity. Researchers who asked people to perform mathematical tasks found that pet owners, in the presence of their dog or cat, not only had lower blood pressure, but also made fewer mistakes.
5. Pets Improve Employee Retention   Chris Meiering says that Zuke’s’s pet-friendly policy has helped staff retention over the past 20 years, and the same benefit was seen at Greensboro, N.C.’s Replacements, the world’s largest supplier of vintage dinnerware, crystal, and collectibles. The warehouse-scale china shop hasn’t yet seen a bull, but it has welcomed dogs, cats, ducks, a pig and a possum, and never suffered a pet-related breakage. Public relations manager Lisa Conklin, says the company’s pets-at-work policy improves staff retention at zero-cost to the company.  Many employees cite the policy as their favorite perk, a nonfinancial benefit that answers a demand for work-life balance.

For companies considering a pet-friendly work policy, keep these common-sense rules in mind: make sure all pets are well-trained and current in their vaccinations, and consult with non-pet owners about allergies and other issues. For more info, check out  CIO.com, dogowner.co.uk, and other resources.

And if you’re looking to adopt a dog, cat or other companion, Kids That Do Good lists a variety of places that can help you, as well as places that can use your help.  In Spring of 2017, one of our featured causes is Best Friends Animal Sanctuary, the largest sanctuary for companion animals in the nation.