Need help convincing your employer to embrace Take Your Dog to Work Day? Here’s a look at the many benefits that come with bringing your pet to work. Plus, check out the dos and don’ts to help avoid a doggy disaster in your workplace.

How to convince your boss to welcome dogs in the workplace

If your employer isn’t thrilled at the thought of people bringing their fur pals to work, perhaps you need to convince him or her otherwise.

You can help your boss embrace Take Your Dog to Work Day (taking place this Friday — 26th June 2020) by highlighting the many benefits that dogs bring. Here are 5 reasons bosses should welcome dogs in the workplace.

1. Dogs keep stress levels to a minimum

Regardless of what is going on (office politics and gossip at the water cooler), dogs always give their unconditional love and that makes you feel good.

Always attentive and constantly loving, dogs lift you up when you’re feeling down. Studies have shown that spending time petting your dog can help reduce stress.

So think of the office dog as shared emotional support.

2. Dogs encourage exercise

Your boss might think that not taking breaks is good for productivity but that’s just not true. Spending too long staring at a computer or serving customers without a decent break will leave you feeling sluggish.

Taking a 20-minute break and going for a brisk walk with your fur pal by your side will leave you feeling fresh and revived and ready to take on whatever work is thrown your way.

3. Pet owners are generally healthy

For the most part, pet owners are healthy. This is because pet ownership encourages physical activity, reduces stress and brings with it positive social interaction.

Thus, allowing employees to bring their dogs to work might just see fewer people having sick days, which is win-win for workers and bosses.

4. Advocate for more pet-friendly places

Bosses who embrace Bring Your Dog to Work Day are actually supporting a more pet-friendly way of life. After all, inviting dogs to meet a variety of people, experience different sights and sounds and embrace an array of social situations is a positive thing.

These situations encourage well-rounded dogs that tend to cope well in all situations. Therefore, bosses who allow dogs in the workplace are doing their bit for dog-friendly cities.

5. Great business promotion

We know that many people, especially millennials would rather work for a pet-friendly company over a business that isn’t pet-friendly. Certainly, accepting Take Your Dog to Work Day and making the most of sharing the events of the day across social media is a great marketing tool.

It shows potential employees that the business accepts the benefits that pets bring and that positive office culture and employee perks are important.

small dog sat on office chair, office dog

How to avoid a doggy disaster in your workplace

Sure, Take Your Dog to Work Day sounds like fun. Who wouldn’t love having their fur baby by their side all day long? However, it’s important to plan ahead and consider the potential dangers before they happen.

The last thing you want to do is adversely impact the health and wellbeing of fellow colleagues or put your four-legged pal in danger. Therefore, it pays to clue up on a few tips to ensure everything goes to plan.

Here are a few things to consider to make certain Take Your Dog to Work Day runs smoothly.

  • Check you have your boss’s approval. You might think it’s perfectly fine to bring your dog to work but some workplaces simply aren’t suitable.
  • Do your research to make absolutely certain that no one in your workplace is allergic to dogs.
  • Consider whether your dog is healthy and has the appropriate temperament to be around people he or she doesn’t know.
  • Make sure your dog’s microchip details are up to date—just in case he decides office life is not for him and bolts!
  • Check your workplace for potential hazards. You might have to get down on all fours to ensure there are no cables, cords, dangerous or sharp objects that could injury your fur pal.

Extra precautions

Just to make absolutely certain that the day goes according to plan, here are a few extra things you can do.

Firstly, if you know other colleagues intend to bring their dogs to work, it’s worthwhile arranging a doggy play date beforehand.

Also, ask around and find a colleague who is happy to take responsibility for Fido in your absence. This way, if you get called into a meeting or need to leave the office Fido isn’t left to his own devices.

Before you arrive at your workplace on Take Your Dog to Work Day, make sure you take Fido for a walk. This can help get rid of any built-up energy and make your dog calmer.

Finally, ensure you set aside time throughout the day to give your fur pal toilet breaks and some fresh air. This will certainly help prevent any messy mishaps!

What to bring on Take Your Dog to Work Day

Providing you’ve checked with your boss and he or she is happy to allow dogs in the workplace, you’ll need to bring a few items with you.

  • Your dog, of course!
  • Pet’s bed, favourite blanket and toy (preferably not a squeaky one!)
  • Food and water, plus bowls
  • Treats

dog sat at office desk, dog in the workplace

The case for more pet-friendly workplaces

According to the Better Cities For Pets 2019 Annual Report, one such trend that is shaping the path for cities that want to be more pet friendly is pets as a work perk.

Apparently, a growing number of people prefer pet-friendly workplaces, so in response more employers are allowing pets to help attract and retain employees. Indeed, the Mars Petcare report reveals that 59% of people would choose a dog-friendly employer over one that’s not and 87% of employers think pet-friendly policies help win talent.

What a great snippet of information to share with your boss!

 

What are your thoughts — will you be taking your dog to work this Take Your Dog to Work Day?

 

 

Information source:

Better Cities For Pets 2019 Annual Report, Mars Petcare

 

Image source: Unsplash.com