Dogs in the Worplace

Author: Michelle Mamerto

We love animals at The Job Shop! Whether our employees are doing community service, fostering dogs and cats, adopting, or volunteering at shelters, or having multiple animals in our homes as members of our families, we are animal lovers inside and outside our office.

We often have dogs in our office. Dogs reduce stress, increase morale, they force their caretakers to go outside, and to take a breaks. Having dogs in the workplace not only benefits the owner of the dog, but the entire team. Several studies show that even just petting a dog for 10 minutes can help reduce stress. This is due to the oxytocin our bodies release when we stroke or cuddle a dog.

In order to actually have a dog-friendly office, we have some unwritten rules:

• We’ve been lucky to have well-behaved pets in our office, but the dogs in our office should be well trained/behaved.

• They must have all their shots.

• Health and safety hazards must be considered for us to have dogs in the office.

• Do you have employees who might be allergic or dislike dogs? There should be a dog-free area, where those employees are able to work.

Dogs in the office remind people to slow down, and provide short distractions that allow employees to destress and take mental breaks.

They provide stress relief and comradery. If you are thinking of creating a dog-friendly space, please consider what rules you will incorporate so that the office is safe and comfortable for both employees and pets.