Here at Ignite HQ, we have always been a dog-friendly workspace. Our furry colleagues are very much members of the team. We love them, and it seems we are not the only ones.
Dog-friendly workspaces are becoming more and more common, and thanks to the documented benefits of having them around, we anticipate this is one trend that is more than just a fad.
Is your office space dog-friendly? If the answer is no, copy the link to this article and send it to your boss.
Here are the reasons why everyone benefits from canine colleagues.
Improved office morale.
Employees are happier if they don’t have to worry about their pet while they are at work. Whether they are home alone or in doggy day care, your team member will be happier if this worry is lifted. As a result, the office quickly becomes a more relaxed place, where employees are more content.
It also is a logistical and financial help. The costs associated with daycare and dog walkers or juggling the logistics of dog sitters can be an added worry for employees.
The effect is the overall improvement in employee satisfaction, motivation, and productivity. Great office morale means a happier and more productive team.
Reduction in stress.
Researchers have found that a dog-friendly office can help reduce employee stress while increasing productivity. Science tells us that oxytocin levels increase when an employee can bring their dog to work. Simultaneously, this surge in oxytocin helps to lower the body’s stress hormone, cortisol.
Not only do office dogs help to manage the oxytocin/cortisol seesaw, but they also provide light relief! How can you not smile at a dog, or laugh at its harmless silliness? The antics of a well-behaved office dog can quickly create a lighter atmosphere working to reduce stress and ease tension.
Improve health.
Having a beloved 4 legged companion nearby can also help to dramatically improve overall health. Studies have shown that people who own pets have a higher level of well-being.
Dog owners have been found to enjoy have lower cholesterol and blood pressure, healthier hearts, and are better able to maintain a healthy weight. Some researchers have pointed out that dog-owners are generally more active, and this has a positive effect on health.
Businesses are reaping the benefits and bringing this into the workplace. Distribute the walking and those extra steps could add up to healthier and happier workforce, for example.
Improves collaboration and working relationships.
People tend to bond over pets. They are conversation starters. They foster and encourage productive work relationships by improving socialisation among colleagues. Dogs help people feel more at ease and they help create an environment of trust and cooperativeness within groups of people. Businesses have found that sharing dog care helps to create and maintain a team mentality.
Increases productivity and creativity.
Dogs can improve productivity and creativity in the office just by their very presence. As we have already seen, employees are happier, more relaxed, collaborative, and at ease…all helping to foster a more inspired workforce.
Dog walking also helps employees to take regular short outdoor breaks. These times away from tasks and the screen can help improve focus and the ability to get the work done. Short breaks stimulate the brain, increasing both focus and productivity.
Increased employee retention.
When the team is happier, there is an increased retention rate. Employees want to stay where they are happiest, and a dog-friendly workspace elsewhere is less of a draw.
Attract top talent.
Dog-friendly offices tend to attract talented job applicants, especially among Millennials. Although growing in commonality, dog-friendly offices are still rare, so job applicants who have pets may be drawn to the company and possibly those of the highest caliber.
All this being said, there are things to think about.
Here are the boring bits…
Not everyone likes dogs, and so for some a dog in the workspace could have an opposite effect.
Dogs need to be of a temperament and life stage to deal with an office environment. It isn’t fair to expect some dogs to be controlled for 8 hours a day. It is up to everyone to respond to the needs of their dog.
Legal and insurance issues may dictate the ability for an office pet or dogs at work. For instance, dogs may bite an employee, customer, or client. Or an employee could trip over the dog or the dog toy, etc. Who covers damage caused by the dog chewing or otherwise damaging office or business property?
Health issues. It is important to consider that some may be allergic to dogs.
Property issues. If the space is rented, are you allowed dogs on-site?
Making it work.
If you are thinking about making a space dog-friendly, you need a policy in place.
Things to think about:
Create a rota.
You don’t want the office to suddenly become the set of 101 Dalmatians. You need to create a fair rota of who can bring their dog and when.
Vaccinations and health.
It would be a good idea to ensure that all dogs have had vaccinations and are treated for fleas/worms etc. It would also probably (definitely!) be best to ensure that any dogs are housetrained.
Take a vote.
Everyone needs to be happy. Before allowing dogs on site, take a vote to see if anyone has worries or concerns. You could even make this anonymous. No one wants to be the one saying no if everyone else is saying yes.
Dogs should be friendly and well trained.
Fights and ill-mannered behaviours will counteract any benefits from having a dog-friendly workspace.
A dog-friendly office is a trend that looks like it is here to stay. More than just a fad, it seems that research backs up what we at Ignite have known for some time; that dog-friendly offices help to boost morale, productivity and creativity among team members. That being said, there are things to think about when looking to implement a dog policy, and it won’t work in all environments.
