The Pros and Cons of a Pet-Friendly Work Environment

With situations like COVID-19 and labor shortages constantly impacting the success of businesses across the country, it is more important than ever to find the best employees and provide a positive work environment by understanding what they value most and allowing them to thrive at work. There are many ways to do this, including a fair pay rate, good benefits, and allowing pets into the office.

The pet-friendly work environment is a relatively new idea that has plenty of upsides for your business and the happiness and effectiveness of your employees. While there are many perks, there are some concerns that come along with this unique arrangement. If you are considering a pet-friendly office, then consider these pros and cons and make the best decision for your organization.

Pros of A Pet-Friendly Work Environment

To understand how pets can be beneficial in the workplace, you just have to look at the benefits that animals provide their owners while they are out of the office. Pets give us a purpose, and by caring for them, we care for ourselves.

When we take them to the park or out for walks, we get valuable exercise that keeps us fit and gives us natural energy. They also help us to meet new people, and it has been proven that they can also help to reduce anxiety and improve our mental health because they make us happy and help us to enjoy the moment. All of these perks can also increase the productivity of your staff at the office because when people are happy in life, that appreciation and positive energy will often cross over into their work.

There are also some financial benefits to having dogs in the office for the pet owners and management alike. Pet owners get to save money that they would spend on doggie daycare facilities and dog sitters. As for the company, they can typically get pet-owning employees to stay longer hours and call out less often since they don’t have to leave early to walk and feed their dogs or be absent from work if they can’t find a sitter.

Then there is the retention aspect. Some of the most common reasons that employees leave their jobs include stressful working conditions and inflexibility by employers to meet their needs. Companies can buck these trends by allowing pets, especially if an employee makes the case that they require a service animal.

The Downside of Pets

Of course, if a pet-friendly environment was a perfect scenario, then every business would consider it a no-brainer, but that isn’t the case due to a couple of concerns. For one, there is a cost aspect. If your pet gets hurt or sick while at the office, then you will likely have full responsibility for paying for their recovery since it is your pet, and you decided to bring them in. To soften the blow of an injury, take the time to invest in high-quality pet insurance, which can help you to pay for vet visits and medication. Doing so could be a lifesaver in a time of need.

While your pet can be injured at the office, so can coworkers if your animal gets out of your control and causes an employee to trip or otherwise hurt themselves. On top of that, your pet could indirectly cause a coworker harm if they are allergic to pets and you are not aware of their condition. If you have a company that is considering a pet-friendly policy, be sure to at least set up pet-free zones where those who have allergies can walk freely without fear of sickness.

Many pets, especially dogs and cats, can have a habit of chewing on objects unfamiliar to them, which could include furniture and office equipment. If this happens, the pet owners may be responsible for replacing the damaged items, and even worse, if it is an important piece of equipment, like a printer or internet router, then your business could lose valuable productivity until the device is repaired.

To mitigate the chances of any of these negative scenarios, management needs to create a comprehensive pet policy that all employees agree to before pets are officially allowed on the premises.

Pet Distractions

When companies consider allowing pets in the office, they often think about how distracting this situation can be. However, it is not all bad. Pet owners just have to be careful to strike a healthy balance. On the positive side, the fact that your business allows pets could be good for your bottom line, because as we discussed above, people like being around pets, and that goes for your customers as well.

If you have a customer-facing business and people can touch and interact with the animals when they enter, then those who like pets will conduct their business and leave in a happier mood. That is great because if they are animal lovers, then they are likely to return and refer their friends.

However, it is important to remember that not all people like pets as much as others, and some customers may see pets as a distraction that gets in between them and the business they are doing at your establishment. So, to avoid a potential lawsuit or unhappy customers, business owners should keep pets behind a barrier and only let them out if the customer gives consent.

While customers can easily get annoyed, so can coworkers. If your animal is loud or likes to play with strangers, then a pet could get you in hot water with management, and you don’t want to jeopardize your job. To remedy this potential issue, keep your pet by your side at all times or keep them at home during busier days at the office. If the negative trend continues, then you may want to bring your pet to an expert for extra training or leave them home completely.

As you can see, while there are some concerns, having a pet-friendly work environment can also be very good for business. Consider the advice above and make the best decision for your particular company. Your choice may set you apart from the competition.