Everyone Wants You to Bring Your Dog to Work

By Cass Jacoby, RCS Reporter. 

Experts say that bringing your dog to work is good for almost everyone, here is why your co-workers are pro-puppy. 

It might sound like we are trying to trick you into letting your coworkers mooch off of that puppy love — and we totally are — but dogs in the workplace are actually proven to serve a positive purpose for the company.  

Dogs make everything better 

According to a May 2017 study published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, dogs in the workplace create more social support for employees and that feeling of being cared for,  which serves as “a key factor in whether people with serious mental illness return to work or remain employed.” 

Many studies conducted on the benefits of bringing your dog to work repeatedly find that bringing a dog to work boosts employee morale, which ultimately boosts the bottom line. A study conducted by researchers at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) found that dogs in the workplace helped reduce stress in their owners and made work more satisfying for other employees with whom the dogs came in contact. 

Another study by Nationwide Pet Insurance in partnership with the Human-Animal Bond Research Institute (HABRI) reinforces VCU’s findings: More than three times as many employees at pet-friendly workplaces report a positive working relationship with their boss and coworkers — significantly more than those in non-pet-friendly environments. 

Everyone wants to pet your dog 

Further, dogs in the workplace offer more opportunities for coworkers to interact in a positive way. Jennifer Fearing, the co-author of “Dogs at Work: A Practical Guide to Creating Dog-Friendly Workplaces,” says that furry four-legged pals provide opportunities for collaboration across departments. “You discover, when walking across the office to pet a cute dog, cross-pollination between your work,” Jennifer told Time. “You really wouldn’t have had the idea to work together, but because you struck up a conversation about the dog, you discover an opportunity that produces some synergy that wouldn’t have otherwise existed.” 

Dog-friendly workplaces attract and retain top talent 

Studies find that Millennials and Generation Z value a pet-friendly work environment, and dog-friendly companies are more successful at attracting and retaining employees. Dog-friendly policies can be added to the list of workplace benefits made to attract and maintain talent.  

The above study found that dog-friendly environments not only attract people to your company, but that these employees are most likely to stay with your company long-term. The study finds that 90% of employees in pet-friendly workplaces feel highly connected to their company’s mission, are fully engaged with their work, and are willing to recommend their employer to others. In contrast, less than 65% of employees in non-pet-friendly workplaces made the same claims. 

Your dog wants to come to work 

Logistically, having a dog come to work with you keeps the dog happier too. Instead of being left alone all day, the dog can happily curl up at your feet.  

Wil-Mar has two office dogs, Morrie and Molly, who like to hang out in their office while their mom, Marianne Sumter, is busy at work. She writes, “We are Yorkshire Terriers, are 1 year old and love relaxing and being close to her!” If only these two lovable Yorkies could get it straight that pipe collars are different than those that take them on a walk! 

Plus, employees who bring their dog to work can regularly work longer hours and have less absent days because they don’t have to rush home to feed, walk or care for their pup. There is also a financial benefit for your employees, who can save money they would have otherwise spent on doggie daycare or dog walking services.  

Overall, there are many benefits to implementing a pro-pup policy for your office. Check out our photo contest of beloved roofing pets for more inspiration to let the dogs in. 

Stay up to date with the latest roofing industry news when you sign up for the RCS Week in Roofing e-news.