More than 8 percent of North American companies, ranging from law offices and software to mortgage brokers and private investigators, allow dogs in their workplace.  A trend that started with big companies like Google is now permeating into other sectors and businesses. But is this movement solely an attempt to look “cool” and attract millennial employees, or is it actually a beneficial practice for the company and its workers?

Every company is different, but for many, the answer is yes, it's actually beneficial. According to ​several studies​, having a pet-friendly policy does impact the level of stress, turnover, communication and overall health of company employees.

Here are some of the benefits: 

1. Dogs Promote Positive Interactions

Pets bring co-workers together who might not interact otherwise​, since stopping by someone’s desk to pet their dog inevitably leads to some sort of communication. Trevor Haywood the CEO of Haywood Hunt & Associates Inc. where they have 2 dogs at their Toronto office, understands this better than anyone.

“There are probably three dozen people I know only because of my dog,” ​he said​. “Magnum (a yellow golden retriever) is more social than I am, so she’s a nice icebreaker.”
 

2. Dogs Encourage Breaks

Lori Blair, the owner of Urban Tail Dog Walking & Pet Services located in downtown Toronto says “studies have shown that workers who take short, frequent breaks during the workday ​have more stamina and are more productive than the ones who don’t. Having a dog around gives employees an excuse to take both a physical and a mental break during the day, that they may not take if they did not have a furry friend in need of fresh air.”
 

3. Dogs Relieve Stress

A ​recent study by International Journal of Workplace Health Management​ found that individuals who brought their dogs to work had “decreased hormonal stress levels throughout the day, reported higher levels of job satisfaction, and had a more positive perception of their employer.”

“Having a dog in the office helps everyone decompress a bit and feel generally less stressed,” says renowned Toronto DUI lawyer Calvin Barry. “I mean, it’s hard to feel agitated when you have that furry face staring so sweetly at you!” 
 

4. Dogs Increase Productivity

Employees of businesses with pet-friendly policies tend to work longer hours and have fewer absences​ since there is no need for them to rush home to walk their dog or stay there with a sick pet.

With this in mind, companies like Google have gone as far as including dogs in their official ​Code of Conduct​ and allowing supervised dogs to come to the workplace—especially since they often require their employees to stay at the office for long periods of time.

5. Dogs Raise Company Loyalty

Offering a pet-friendly environment for employees can be a cost-effective way to add benefits, which increases company loyalty. ​According to the PAWrometer (Pets At Work barometer) survey​, “53 percent of employees who currently work at a company that is not pet-friendly were ‘more likely’ to stay with their company if it allowed them to bring their pets to the office.”

Businesses like Homebase Mortgages in Toronto know this well and take things to the next level by throwing ‘puppy parties’ to celebrate dogs' birthdays and even offer a service that takes the pups off to a spa day with grooming and day camp.

Talk about spoiling employees and their pets!

6. Dogs Help With Mental Health

According to a study published in Frontiers in Veterinary Science​,“ownership of pet dogs contributes toward the recovery from serious mental illness,” which is why companies like GoDaddy have pet-friendly policies.

Malerie Rose, a Family Lawyer with Rose Family Law in Mississauga says “we often have families in our offices that are going through a very stressful time. To have our office dogs around for the kids to play with has been a game changer. I can’t imagine our office without them. They have been indispensible for us.”

However, despite the many benefits, bringing your pet to work is not always practical nor ideal. If you or your company are seriously considering implementing this practice, it is important to:
 

Make Sure Dogs are “Ready” for the Workplace

Dogs with aggressive tendencies should not be allowed to go to work—nor should dogs with health issues. One way to make sure this does not happen is by implementing rules of what is and what is not allowed in a pet-friendly office; Nestle, for example, has a three-step process​, which involves a detailed questionnaire about the pooch’s habits, two behavior assessments by an independent dog specialist and a health check.
 

Keep In Mind Not Everyone Likes Dogs

It is important to be mindful of employees who do not like being surrounded by dogs, or the ones that are allergic.

Some companies deal with this issue by segregating their dog-friendly areas. Salesforce, for example, only allows dogs in a designated communal room where up to six employees are allowed to reserve desks and sit with their four-legged friends.

The rooms are equipped with everything a dog and its owner could possibly need, including water bowls, padded cages, dog beds and cleaning wipes; for everyone’s peace of mind, the rooms are soundproof.

Images from: Deposit Photos