Office Style: Dogs at Work

Did you know 49% of Americans said they would switch jobs to be able to bring their dog to work?

Thanks to a recent joint study by dogster.com and SimplyHired.com, corporate America is listening to the wants of its’ employees: A pet friendly workplace.

Amazon is one of the big pioneers in this field. Walk into their Seattle headquarters and you are greeted with a bowl of doggy treats at the front desk. Look around and you will see pups galavanting in and out of the building with their owners, going on their daily lunch break walks. You can even find a detailed description of each dog (their favorite toys, age, and personality traits) on Amazon’s “Meet the dogs of Amazon” page.

The popularity of this trend seems to be growing exponentially and people are loving it.

Several American companies have adopted this pet friendly environment year-round. In 2015, 8% of companies in America allowed pets in the workplace (up from 4% in 2014). For the companies that aren’t quite ready to commit to a full-time pet policy, “Take Your Dog to Work Day” is another popular option; and it’s not just the novelty. According to a 2016 study by Banfield Pet Hospital, 82% of employees said that being able to bring their dogs to work evoked a greater sense of loyalty to their employers.

Similar studies have also proven a significant boost in morale and productivity within the workplace (see 2012 Virginia Commonwealth study). However, many people suffer from mild to severe pet allergies that may prohibit them from working in their desired environment. Not to mention the added responsibility and liability issues. Where do companies draw the line?

But it seems as if businesses across America should consider all of the benefits associated with a pet-friendly office: more loyalty, better morale and higher productivity. It will be interesting to see how this all pans out… fur everybody! ?