When a typical day in the office includes preparing for several meetings, mountains of paperwork and deadlines to meet, consider how the presence of the wagging tail of your furry friend might be an instant mood booster for your workday.
Many companies are embracing the idea of bringing pets to work and for good reason. Not only does having pets in the workplace improve the wellbeing of employees, but it also creates a positive and vibrant work environment.
While taking your pet to work isn’t for every office or everyone, there are some paw-some perks of having your pet pal as your work buddy.
Reduced stress
It’s well documented that pets help to reduce stress and interacting with a pet has been shown to lower blood pressure and release the feel-good hormones called endorphins. 45% of people believe that pets in the workplace create a more relaxed environment, which can lead to increased productivity and improved job satisfaction.
Enhanced employee relationships
Pets have a remarkable ability to create a sense of camaraderie among employees. The presence of animals fosters a warm and friendly work environment, encouraging positive interactions and socialisation. 24% of people believe that relationships are enhanced by having pets in the workplace, with people more likely to connect and communicate with each other when a pet acts as an icebreaker.
Improved physical and mental wellbeing
Many office environments involve long hours spent sitting in front of a computer. Having a pet at work can encourage movement and physical activity. Pets are motivators to go for regular walks to overcome ‘brain fog’ when working on a project for long periods, or playtime breaks for some time in the sun. Pets can also be a vehicle to share the positive mood boosts to others in the workplace that don’t have pets of their own.
Better management of work-life balance
Work-life balance has been a challenge for many juggling the pressures of work and everyday life. Bringing your pet to work can help bridge this gap by allowing you to spend quality time with your pet during office hours, instead of rushing home to tend to their needs. Having pets in the workplace helps reduce pet parent guilt and worry about having pets at home on their own.
Bringing pets to work offers various benefits that go beyond the adorable sight of wagging tails and cute purrs. It has the power to transform the workplace into a more positive, stress-free, and engaging environment.
Explore whether your workplace has a pet-friendly workplace policy and consider bringing your furry companion to work to enjoy the paw-some perks it brings!