Why Dogs in the Workplace Make Office Life Better

There are few things in this world that everyone can agree on, but here’s one of them: dogs make pretty much everything better. Office life is no exception. A few years ago, AirTank instituted a Bring Your Dog to Work Policy, and we can tell you first-hand (or first-paw, if you will) that it has improved our office culture substantially.

Benefits of Dogs in the Workplace

Work can be stressful, no matter how much you love your job. But imagine if you had a dog to pet during those stressful moments! Studies have shown that pets increase confidence and lower stress—and that’s something that can benefit every employee.

In addition to simply making people feel better, having dogs at work helps cultivate a positive and tight-knit office culture, boosting morale and motivating employees to produce their best work.

It’s a win-win for everyone. Employees who own dogs don’t have to dish out extra money for doggy daycare or rush home for walks and feedings. And dog-less employees can enjoy having an animal around without having to take on the responsibility of a pet.

Implementing a Pet Policy at Work

Thinking about implementing a pet at work policy in your office? Begin by surveying your colleagues to see how they feel about this idea. While it seems inconceivable that anyone wouldn’t want a dog around, the health and safety of your co-workers should be the top priority.

Check with the office landlord to obtain approval, and then initiate a trial period to see how it goes. At AirTank, we have a 10-day trial period for each individual dog to make sure both the dog and the owner can adhere to our policy of responsible dog ownership. Here’s what that means in our office:

· The dog is fully house-trained and of good hygiene

· The dog is well-behaved and does not display aggression toward other dogs

· The dog is closely supervised, and the owner takes full responsibility for cleaning up after it all times

· Any behavior that interferes with another employee’s ability to work may be cause for the pet to be taken home

· The owner is respectful of employees who are allergic or fearful of dogs

Of course, before we even get to this point, we require proof that the dog is properly licensed, spayed/neutered and that all vaccinations are up to date.

It’s been a couple years since we started bringing our dogs to work, and we haven’t looked back. How could we when we have these good boys making our workdays better?