The Surprising Benefits of Dogs To Your Business
More than 8% of U.S. companies, from applications and technology to hotels and beauty salons, provide dogs access in the workplace. A trend that started with large companies like Google is now permeating other companies and businesses. But is this practice just an attempt to look “cool” and bring in thousands of employees, or is it a really valuable practice for your company and your employees? Some organizations disagree, but for many, the answer is yes, It is beneficial. According to many studies, achieving a pet-friendly policy affects employee stress levels, turnover, communication, and the company’s overall well-being. If you are a businessman, why own a dog? Here are some of the advantages.
Dogs Promote Positivism
Pets, such as dogs, bring together employees who would otherwise not interact with each other because walking past a person’s desk to pet their pet inevitably contributes to some form of communication. Besides, dogs also reduce stress. A recent study in the International Journal of Workplace Health Management found that people who bring their dog to work reduces hormonal stress during the day, report greater job satisfaction, and have a more positive perception of the employer. Having a puppy in the office helps everyone decompress a bit and feel generally less stressed.
Dogs Increase Productivity
Employees with pet-friendly policies tend to work longer and have less absenteeism since they do not have to rush home to take their pet for a walk or stay with a sick animal. With this in mind, companies like Google have now included dogs in their official code of conduct and allow supervised dogs to enter the workplace, especially since they often require employees to stay in the office for long periods. Also, dogs strengthen company loyalty. Providing employees with a pet-friendly environment can be a cost-effective way to add benefits, which increases company loyalty. Companies like Build-A-Bear know this and take things to another level by hosting “puppy parties” to follow dog birthdays and offering a service that takes puppies to a vanity spa and afternoon camp – discussing dedicated staff next to their pets!
Dogs Help with Mental Health
Internet domains and hosting companies use dogs as part of their resources to help their employees take care of their emotional health – it’s a great way to justify having puppies running around the office, making everyone happy. However, it is not always practical or ideal to bring your pet with you despite the many advantages. In case you or your company are seriously considering introducing this practice, it is important to do so.