1. Helps reduce stress
Dogs and cats are often cited as the best animals to help with stress. Look into their eyes and suddenly your worries and stress seem to disappear. In fact, among a group of employees in Greensboro, North Carolina, work stress levels decreased when their dog was by their side, according to a 2012 study published in the International Journal of Workplace Health Management. Conversely, work stress levels increased for colleagues who left their pets at home or didn’t have pets at all.
2. Encourage longer working hours
Few people want to work long hours. But put a pet in the office and suddenly you have a reason to stick with it and get the job done. According to a 2008 survey of 50 small and large companies by the American Pet Products Manufacturers Association, those that allow pets in the workplace not only make employees more willing to work long hours, but also have lower absenteeism rates.
3. Increased friendship
Let’s face it, everyone has a coworker they can’t stand. However, if you like cute Labrador retrievers or Ragdolls, you will suddenly have mutual “friends” and common words and get along better with your colleagues.
Other things you need to consider:
Despite all the potential benefits of bringing a pet to work, there are some important things to consider. For example, you should plan ahead and check with your co-workers and supervisors to make sure that bringing fur babies into the workplace is not against company policy and that no one has serious pet allergies. Also, please ensure your pet’s health and safety. Can you carry enough food and water to keep it going throughout the day? Can you keep your pet from disturbing the work area? While pets can bring many benefits, they also need to be suitable for the environment.
