I have to admit that every time I see a dog at work, my heart melts. Doggies always make me smile. Last week, I met a cute dog in the elevator. She does not know, but after petting her for a few seconds, I felt recharged, and was extremely productive that afternoon.
Dogs are appearing in increasing numbers in the workplace for assistance with a disability, emotional support, or even companionship.
Pups are no longer confined to the home environment. Companies, such as Google, Etsy, and Amazon, allow employees to bring their pet dogs to work. In some cases, on-site accommodations including dog parks, dog-sized water fountains next to the typical fountains, containers of dog treats, and waste-bag dispensers outside along the paths between buildings.
As you can imagine, bringing a dog to work, whether it is a service dog or a pet, affects everyone at that place, including other co-workers, staff, and customers. Below I highlight some of the benefits of having a dog in the workplace:
🐾 Dogs can help reduce stress. Some studies have shown that dogs in the workplace provide an additional source of social support, and this social support correlates with lower levels of depression, stress, and better job performance. Some studies suggest that the presence of a dog reduces stress (even more effectively than family and friends in some cases). If you think about it, having a dog around the workplace can be a mood booster.
🐾 Task Performance Enhancement. A study looking at the effects of pets in performance and cardiovascular reactivity found that pets can help improve performance. The people that were assigned to a pet showed significant improvements in their performance in math and speech tasks compared with those who had not. Additionally, after a six-month follow-up, those with pets had lower heart rates and blood pressures. What can you expect from happier and less stressed employees? Better performance and increased productivity!
🐾 Positive effect on social interactions. Another benefit of dogs in the workplace is that they can have a positive impact on the interactions among employees. Reports suggest that pets enhance the social environment at work. Also, research has shown that dogs can increase the frequency of conversations among people. Excellent communication is essential for a team to function effectively. Pets are great icebreakers; they create an immediate shared interest. A cute pet gives people a safe target of conversation.
If you are lucky enough to take Fido to your work, share with us your office dog photos. If you are not allowed to bring your dog to work, you may be able to share a workday with your dog on “Take Your Dog To Work Day.” Since 1999, the Friday following Father’s Day each year has been designated “Take Your Dog To Work Day.”
If you have the privilege to celebrate “Take your Dog day” or your office is dog-friendly, share with us your office dog photos! We would love to see them.
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