9 Benefits of a Dog-Friendly Workplace

Most dog owners have to leave their pets at home when they go off to work for the day. It can be disheartening and stressful for the dogs and owners alike. However, a current trend is for employers to create pet-friendly workplaces and allow employees to bring their dogs with them to work.

While pet-friendly workplaces are still the exception rather than the rule, the trend is growing. In 2014, only 8% of workplaces in the United States allowed employees to bring dogs to work. Three years later, that number had increased to 11%.

Pet-friendly workplaces offer benefits to employers, employees, and dogs alike. Here are some of the biggest advantages.

1. Reduced Pet Sitting Costs

Dog owners who work full time often hire pet-sitting or dog walking services to look after their pets while they are away for the day to prevent their pets from becoming bored or anxious. This rivals surgical care and emergency vet visits as one of the most significant expenses related to dog ownership. The ability to bring their pets to work removes the need for these services, saving dog owners hundreds of dollars per year.

2. Improved Employee Retention

As pet-friendly workplaces become more common, more prospective job candidates include it as a criterion they look for when choosing a new position. A survey of professionals in human resources shows that most candidates specifically ask about dog-friendly policies at the workplace when interviewing for a position. Over half of employees at companies that are not pet friendly claim that the ability to bring their dogs to work would make them more likely to stay at the company.

In particular, a dog-friendly policy may help employees attract millennial employees. Now that the Baby Boomers have started to reach retirement age, millennials are the largest age group in the workforce. Three-quarters of millennials are dog owners, and they tend to be more likely than previous generations to take advantage of pet-friendly services where available, especially in the workplace.

3. Increased Customer Engagement

Pet-friendly policies not only help companies attract talent, but they may also help attract more customers. Consumers with dogs may be more likely to patronize businesses where their canine companions and welcome, and a pet-friendly policy may help a company stand out from the competition even among customers who do not own dogs. As a pet parent, you know that it can be difficult to resist that guileless expression on a furry face; the same may hold true of customers.

4. Improved Teamwork

Research suggests that human interaction is enhanced by the presence of dogs. Preliminary studies and anecdotal evidence from pet-friendly workplaces suggest that this can translate into improved cooperation and teamwork among small groups. More research is needed but, if accurate, more widespread adoption of pet-friendly policies could increase workplace productivity.

5. Decreased Stress Levels

For years, it has been known that owning a pet helps to decrease anxiety and stress, helping to lower blood pressure and offering other health benefits. An early study into pet-friendly workplaces in 2012 found that dog owners who brought their pets to work reported lower stress levels than those who did not.

6. Improved Morale

Morale refers to positive feelings that an employee feels about his or her job and the company overall. A 2016 study about pets in the workplace showed that 88% of employees at dog-friendly companies reported increased morale, 77% reported more personal satisfaction with their work, and 79% reported improved work relationships. The benefits extended beyond work as 86% reported a better sense of overall well-being and 85% reported improved work-life balance.

7. Reduced Absenteeism

If a dog is sick or hurt, the owner often must stay home to provide care. Depending on the pet's condition, the ability to bring the dog to work can reduce the amount of time that the owner has to take off.

8. Better Perceived Productivity

Improved productivity is sometimes touted as a benefit of pet-friendly workplaces. However, despite preliminary studies that suggest a possible relationship between dogs at work and improved productivity, there has been very little scientific research into it thus far. Nevertheless, surveys show that there is a belief among employees and HR personnel that pet-friendly policies help improve productivity. The perception could become a self-fulfilling prophecy and turn into reality.

9. More Pet Adoptions

Pet overpopulation is a serious problem in the United States. There are not enough homes available for every dog and cat in need. Many people are interested in adopting pets but feel they are unable to. Impediments to dog ownership include the cost of pet-sitting services and concern about leaving dogs alone all day. Surveys show that 60% of employees believe that, if workplaces were friendlier to pets, there would be more pet adoptions. Perhaps more significantly, 22% of employees who work at companies that do not allow pets and do not have a pet of their own reported that they would be more likely to consider adopting a pet if their company's policy changed to allow pets at work. Therefore, if companies removed impediments to pet ownership, more employees may adopt a pet, which could result in a decrease in overpopulation over time.

While pet-friendly workplaces seem overwhelmingly positive, some people have raised some legitimate concerns about them. A dog-friendly policy could introduce the risk of dog bites and property destruction and negatively impact employees who have allergies. There are ways to mitigate these risks by requiring that employees' pets go through training, remain on a leash, and stay out of areas designated dog-free.