The COVID-19 pandemic forced many individuals to reconsider their priorities. With the majority of 2020 spent in lockdown, some focused on their familial and domestic relationships over career obligations. Others opted to build new relationships with furry friends they now consider a part of their family, as evidenced by how fosters and adoptions increased by 700 percent last year.
With the economy reopening and offices adopting the hybrid model, new pet parents may be anxious to leave their dogs or cats all alone at home. As a business owner, you can help your employees transition back to the office by fostering a dog-friendly workplace culture. Apart from giving employees an incentive to come in, making your office dog-friendly will show your staff that your company is paying close attention to their new priorities. This undertaking will also allow your business to enjoy various benefits such as increased productivity and improved employee morale and well-being, among many others.
That said, how exactly do you pull off this transition? Here are some practical pieces of advice to help you promote a more dog-friendly culture in your workplace:
Provide Pet Accessories and Supplies Pet Owners Can Use
Don’t just announce that you’re willing to have dogs come into the office with their owners. Show that your company is following through on the commitment by investing in practical pet accessories like custom dog leashes and water bowls for your employees’ fur babies. You can even go a step further by personalizing all of the dog leashes, bowls, and other pet merchandise with your company name and logo. Consider giving away a complete set that includes collars, harnesses, beds, and other pet care essentials.
Review If the Building Can Accommodate Pets
Before you make the big announcement, double-check if your office building allows pets to freely roam around inside of the property. Otherwise, the dog-friendly policy is useless and cannot be implemented in your workplace.
If the building doesn’t accommodate pets, you can still promote a dog-friendly culture by hosting pet-related activities in another venue or through online means. It doesn’t have to be anything fancy, either. Simply checking in with pet owners and asking them to show off their fur kids will show that you’re invested in their lives as pet parents. Whenever possible, encourage your pet-owning employees to share stories about their fur children. This is a fantastic way to build camaraderie among staff who would otherwise have no opportunities to interact with each other.
Set Rules and Guidelines Regarding Pet Stewardship in the Office
If your building can accommodate pets, you need to set rules and guidelines according to its existing policies. This will remind pet owners that they’re fully responsible for ensuring that their pets stay out of trouble.
If a pet owner needs to step out of the office, they must keep their pets secured by placing them in a kennel or putting them on a leash until they return. If any pet owners aren’t comfortable leaving their fur babies alone, implement a buddy system where another co-worker can look after the animal while the owner is out. Other important rules include having dogs leashed at all times and bringing pets outside whenever they need to pee or poop.
Require All Pets to Be Fully Vaccinated
Your employees’ safety also hinges on the health of the pets that come in. Set up an application process where employees who want to bring their pets to work must submit the animal’s complete vaccination records. As a rule, any pet that enters the office should have completed their necessary shots. Another precaution is to double-check if the pet has fleas. It might also help to require owners to submit up-to-date medical certificates from their vets. These documents can prove that the pups are in good health and are free from any potentially infectious disease.
Check in with Employees Who Have Animal-related Allergies and Other Discomforts
Not all employees are pet owners or lovers, and as such, they may not be comfortable with having animals in the workplace. For some, the reason is health-related in that they may be allergic to pets. Others might not appreciate the noise and disruption that pups can cause around the office.
Before preparing a complete dog-friendly workplace, conduct a company-wide survey and discuss the idea of welcoming pets into the office among all departments. If your workplace covers more than one floor of the building, then you can designate one of the floors as a dog-friendly area. That way, those who want space away from the pups will have a pet-free space to work in.
Ensure That All Pets Who Come in Are Social, Friendly, and Trained
Pets are there to boost the staff’s productivity, morale, and mood. If the pets are unruly and aggressive, they’ll end up disturbing everyone and adding more work for the owners to take care of. Emphasize to all employed pet parents that their fur babies must be trained to be friendly around people. Any pets that bite, attack, or bark too much will be banned from the office.
Offer Benefits for Pets as an Employee Perk
A pet-friendly company culture goes beyond welcoming dogs to the office. Remember: pet owners treat their furry adoptees like family. So, if the budget allows, include pet insurance in your employees’ list of benefits. It will be a big help for your pet-owning staff to have insurance that covers veterinary checks and visits. You can also offer bereavement leaves for employees who are mourning the loss of their furry friend. These small and big efforts show that you value the fur babies in these people’s lives. In turn, you will win your employees’ loyalty for life.
Everyone in the office can enjoy a fun and positive environment by having their dogs, cats, and other house pets around. Apart from increased productivity, having fur friends at work can create more opportunities for staff interaction. Non-pet owners who love animals can also enjoy reduced stress and improved moods from watching and playing with their coworkers’ furry companions. As long as your company has all the safety protocols and rules in place, your business can reap the many benefits of implementing a dog-friendly work culture.
