.jpg)
Last week saw a new sort-of holiday, Take Your Dog to Work Day, which indicated a growing trend: pets in the workplace. The North County Times looks at the trend. Just about the only cases you’ll see of animals actually living at the office are for cats, like library cats or the one that lives in my sister-in-law’s office. However, more and more employers are starting to allow the dogs to come in to work with their owners. Some very dog-friendly businesses allow this every day, others just haves special times sent aside, like Take Your Dog to Work Day.
The American Pet Products Association estimates that about 1.4 million people bring their dogs to work every day. Dogfriendly.com surveyed businesses in 2006, and found that about 1 in 4 are dog friendly. The site thinks that number is holding steady.
Eric McCormack, a producer on the Discovery Channel’s “Antique Kings,” explains why companies like hers, Authentic Entertainment, allow dogs in the office. “It’s such a great way to create a productive atmosphere. It makes the environment more conducive to creativity,” she said. “[Dogs] are a calming force. When things get stressful, you can lean down and pet your dog or take a walk and pet a nearby dog. You get a more efficient workplace, one that’s not consumed with stress.”
Companies that allow dogs do so for the benefits. Like McCormack says above, it creates a laid-back atmosphere that encourages creativity and can also help to reduce stress. Other employers interviewed by The North County Times say that allowing dogs in the workplace helps them stay viable compared to other companies.
Many software and engineering companies are dog-friendly, because they have a hard time competing for talent. Allowing owners to take their dogs into work can give an employer an extra edge to woo prospective employees. It allows people to stay longer at work, because they don’t have to go home to take care of their dog, and it also helps companies retain employees. It might not be as attractive to leave for a higher salary, for example, if the new company doesn’t allow dogs and both owner and pet are used to spending the day with each other.
Obviously some places of work just can’t allow pets: restaurants, salons, food stores, and other types of establishments can’t have dogs on the premises due to health codes. Other companies might be located in buildings that ban pets, or can’t afford the higher insurance rate it would bring.
I’d love to bring my pet into work (if I were in that type of situation), but I don’t think I would. Chihiro would spend the whole time whining that she couldn’t wander around to see everyone. Still I think it’s really cool that many employers are giving their employees the option.
Would you take your dog to work if you were allowed?
Related Articles:
Bringing Your Dog to Work: Canine Office Etiquette
PetPlan has Advice for “Take Your Dog to Work” Day
Just Shy: Dealing with One Dog’s Uncertainty Around Other Dogs
Legal Woes for Maryland Pit Bull Owners
*(This image by lululemon athletica is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.5 License.)
