Back when I worked in an office, I looked forward to the days when my boss brought his goldendoodle in. The pup was always so well-behaved and a nice break from the rest of the day. It's a good reminder that offices with dog-friendly policies are often very joyous places to work.
For example, look at Ben & Jerry's. The popular ice cream company has made a lot of great moves in the past few years, but one was making sure that employees knew their dogs were welcome. For many employees, that's an incentive to adopt from a shelter. The company even modeled a few dog-friendly ice cream flavors named after some of the employees' most valuable pups.
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Staying home from work encouraged a lot of people to rescue dogs. And it's been beneficial for plenty of reasons. If your current office isn't quite dog-friendly, here are some positive points you might want to bring up with your boss — especially since Take Your Dog to Work Day falls on June 25 this year.
1. Dogs help us get up and active.
According to Chron, 80% of contemporary jobs are sedentary — which means they include a ton of sitting. That makes a lot of sense, since a lot of office jobs require a computer to get work done. Having a dog in the office is a good way to get outside during lunch breaks. Moving around and being active will help you stay healthy long-term, and taking your dog outside is a good excuse you can't skip.
2. Dogs make you feel less lonely.
Dogs bring a lot of joy to every household. But they can also keep you company at work. If you're working on big projects and need to close your office door, a dog is a good way to prevent you from feeling isolated. Unlike Carol in the break room, a dog also won't hold you hostage with long, personal stories that you don't necessarily have time to hear right now. Chatting with coworkers is great, but sometimes it causes harm to your productivity. Since dogs don't talk back and will have no problem napping throughout the workday, they make wonderful office mates.
3. Dogs are excellent for stress relief.
Dogs shouldn't replace therapists, but they're very helpful if you need a bit of cheering up. "In humans, petting a dog can trigger the release of the bonding hormone oxytocin," states VetStreet. "Feeling that fur can also lower your heart rate and blood pressure." If you feel overworked or too stressed out, petting a dog can help you calm down. It's much better and more effective than that stress ball on your desk.
4. Dogs can help break the ice.
When it comes to bringing a team together, a dog is a much better ice breaker than a trust fall exercise. Dog lovers in the organization will definitely stop by and see the office pup. Dogs are also a great way to help set the tone for an office. With a dog hanging around, you'll find your coworkers are more relaxed. Dog-friendly places are typically pretty people-friendly, as well.
5. Having a dog in the office makes employees feel more 'at home' at work.
More people would have dogs if they were able to travel with them during the day. And a lot of people cite work as being the obstacle why they don't. While many senior dogs can be OK on their own throughout a work period, many can't. If employees knew that they could bring their pup to work, they'd likely be more loyal to the company. They know you're giving them a perk that they can't find at other job sites. And that will make them less tempted to seek out other employment opportunities.
6. Dogs can learn how to adapt in an office setting.
Of course, dogs who come into the office should be people-friendly and willing to learn. Like with any new location, a dog will likely take a few days to adjust to the new setting. But pretty soon, they'll be able to figure out their own way around. They'll know which coworkers are friendly, which ones offer up the treats, and who to keep a distance from. While you are fully responsible for your dog at work, they'll be able to learn the lay of the land pretty well. And if other people bring their dogs in, it's a great way for them to socialize.
7. A dog can give an office more personality.
If you happen to work in a small family-owned business, you might get customers stopping by just to see the dog. Pets can often be wonderful mascots. And pets are also a great way to connect with others through advertising. Dogs and cats are both quite popular, and people will take an extra look at the advertisement featuring the office dog.
8. Allowing dogs is a simple and easy gesture that can improve office morale.
It's been a really tough year for all of us. Most of us have never experienced a global catastrophe so great. While so many companies want things to "return back to normal," that's becoming increasingly hard. The world has changed, and people need to try to adjust to this new normal that we're all feeling.
Allowing dogs in an office is a wonderful way to boost employee morale. It's also a way to say "we know things have changed so much" to the employees who may have depended on their dogs to mentally get through this past year. As long as workers are responsible for their pups, it's an incentive that shouldn't cost the company anything.
