Offices are BORING!
Ok, so that isn’t strictly true… There are some extremely talented interior designers turning offices from bland, plain, soul searching environments, to colourful, inspirational and inviting spaces. But generally, offices are boring!
The thinking behind plain walls, sterile flooring and an air-con infused office is to ensure workers are awake, fully focused on their task with minimal distraction and it’s easily cleaned. However, as the world has evolved, so has our way of thinking, working and living. We’re now better educated in the effects our environment has on our wellbeing and productivity, and every business should be taking advantage of the simple and FREE changes that can be made to daily working lives to promote happy, healthy, productive workers.
- Desk personalisation
- Walking meetings
- IT free time (at least 2 minutes out of every hour)
- Step challenges
- Flexible working
- Quote of the day
- Random acts of kindness
- * PETS IN THE OFFICE *
Some may say I have an unhealthy, clinically obsessive attachment to animals, but I say, if you’re going to do something, do it properly 😊
Some of you will be thinking, ‘pets in the office, it’s more trouble than what it’s worth’… wrong. Studies show that there are loads of advantages to having yours, or a colleague’s four-legged friend attend the office.
Recruitment and retention – Flexible working is now one of the most valued benefits you can offer employees, and most businesses will offer it to some degree (x days a week must be worked from the office). Did you know 62% of UK households have a pet, and 95% of those consider their pet a member of the family. A pet friendly office can help alleviate the concerns of employees leaving their much-loved companion home for extended periods of time, or having the additional cost of a dog walker, pet sitter, or doggy day care.
A dog in the office also has benefits, studies have taken place in a multitude of diverse work settings, such as universities, prisons, hospitals, court, shelters, and they have proven that the presence of animals increases employee loyalty, career satisfaction and reduces turnover. Pet policies are seen as evidence that organisations prioritise employee-wellbeing.
Enhance workplace wellbeing – according to petsforpatriots.org dogs make you happy… FACT! Studies have shown that even small interactions with dogs cause the human brain to produce oxytocin, a hormone often referred to as the “cuddle chemical”. Oxytocin increases feelings of relaxation, trust, and empathy while reducing stress and anxiety.
That warm and fuzzy feeling you get when you cuddle with your pooch? Oxytocin!
Creates collaboration – Dogs act as a social lubricant, increasing the ease and frequency of conversations between friends, colleagues and strangers. If you don’t believe this, take a dog with you and count the number of social encounters you have compared to being out and about on your own. Harvard Business Review reported that in one series of lab experiments, psychologists found that participants working on decision-making tasks in the company of a dog (versus a dog’s absence) rated their teams as more friendly and attentive, which increased their subsequent cooperation and interpersonal trust. It’s on the internet, it must be true!
Promotes physical health – Dogs encourage their owners to take exercise breaks. Not only will this keep your employee physically healthy but mentally healthy also. Walking helps improve concentration and imagination and frequent short breaks actually increases productivity. Pet ownership generally has been shown to have a number of positive health benefits, including fewer visits to the doctor, lower cholesterol and improved heart health. If you encourage pet ownership amongst your employees by letting them bring their dogs to work, you’re likely to be rewarded by a healthier workforce with fewer sick days.
To ensure your pet policy is successful, here are some tips and tricks we’ve learnt over the years.
You may find that having employee’s dogs in your office all the time doesn’t work for you, your company or your employees. Instead, you allow dogs in the office when morale and productivity is low to bring a boost to those that need it, or to encourage donations when raising money for your favourite charity.
Of course, it isn’t as simple as making an announcement that dogs can now attend work with their humans. Some dogs may not be suited to office life and certain guidelines will need to be made, from our experience we would recommend the following.
- Dogs must be well behaved – territorial, aggressive or untrained dogs are not to be bought to work with you (please use your common sense)
- Ensure you bring the following items with you if you are going to bring your dog into the office
- Water bowl
- Food / treats
- Poo bags
- Dog bed / blanket
- Should your dog become a distraction or disruptive, you will be asked to keep him or her at home (this should be an uplifting experience for all)
- You are responsible for your dog, but others may take him or her out for a 5 minute break if they ask
- If your dog is sick, please leave them at home to get better (they need rest and relaxation just like us)
- Dogs should be well groomed, and their nails trimmed with no sharp edges.
I hope this short read has been useful and informative. For tips and tricks on how to ensure your pet policy is enjoyable and successful for all involved, check out https://www.petsit.com/toolkit
Bring Your Dog To Work Day is coming up on 21st June giving you the perfect opportunity to experiment with dogs in the workplace.