The Rise of the Pet-Friendly Workplace: 5 Benefits of a Pet-Friendly Workplace
There are many perks to having a pet. In fact, the unconditional love of a furry friend can benefit your mental and physical health and improve your quality of life. The benefits of sharing your home with a pet are well-known, and the COVID-19 pandemic — when more than 11.38 million households got a new pet, according to the American Pet Products Association — strengthened those human-animal bonds. In the post-pandemic era, more companies have discovered that those relationships also positively impact the workplace and are embracing pet-friendly environments and pet-focused benefits to attract and meet the needs of employees.
Here, we explore the perks of welcoming four-legged friends into the workplace.
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Pet-friendly policies can increase employee satisfaction.
Companies with pet-friendly policies are often viewed as organizations that support employees’ well-being and happiness. That’s why job-seekers prioritize Fido-friendly offices, which have become a retention feature to help companies attract and retain employees. Like flexible hours, autonomy and other workplace benefits, pet-friendly policies have become valuable aspects of company cultures, particularly for Gen Z and Millennial employees. Studies in diverse settings, including traditional offices, universities, prisons, hospitals and courthouses, indicated that the presence of animals increases employee commitment and career satisfaction and reduces turnover intentions, according to the Harvard Business Review.
Pet-related benefits also attract employees.
In addition to allowing the presence of furry friends at the office, pet-centric benefits — such as paid pet bereavement leave, paid time off to care for a new or sick pet, pet health insurance, etc. — are also coveted workplace features and can even be more important to individuals than the ability to bring their four-legged companions to the office. A survey conducted by Banfield Pet Hospital demonstrated that most employees (51%) said they would prefer other pet-related benefits over allowing pets in the workplace (39%). Of all pet-related benefits tested, general pet-related PTO received the highest rating from both employees (47%) and HR decision-makers (54%).
Some employers that offer exemplary benefits for pet owners include Amazon, which has an on-campus dog park at its Seattle headquarters; Kinship, a company based in New York City, San Francisco and Portland that offers PTO for welcoming a new pet or mourning a pet’s passing and an annual $750 pet stipend; and Nestle Purina Petcare in St. Louis, where employees get a $200 stipend for each new pet adoption. Nestle Purina Petcare also holds the world record for the most pets in an office at one time.
The presence of pets encourages workers to get outside.
To stay healthy, dogs need physical and mental activity through walks or playtime — an excellent opportunity for pet parents to take a break from their screens. “When you’re petting or playing with a dog, you’re releasing serotonin, and the dog is too,” said Russell Hinkle, the CEO of the Longmont Humane Society in Longmont, Colorado. “You’re both mutually really enjoying the process. And it gets people outside and exercising a lot more when they’re out walking their dogs. It forces you to go outside, be immersed in nature and get some vitamin D and fresh air.”
Animal companions help individuals stay mindful.
Because dogs and cats always live in the present moment, it urges their pet parents to do the same. Mindfulness, which can improve focus, reduce stress and boost creativity, can be particularly impactful during busy workdays at home or at the office.
“Having a dog around is always a good way to check yourself and be more in the moment. It helps you be present,” Hinkle says. “If you’re at work and you’re stressed out or there’s a lot going on, you can take a break and scratch your dog’s head or take them outside and get some fresh air,” he said.
Tail-wagging coworkers increase collaboration.
Nothing ignites a deskside conversation like an encounter with a furry friend. A study of dog owners who routinely bring their dogs to the office and persons in management positions at the same companies supported beliefs that people and workplaces tend to be more content and at ease when pups are present. Pets reduce feelings of isolation by boosting employee interactions, facilitating bonding and friendships among coworkers and positively influencing individual and collective well-being. Dogs foster social interaction, integration and cohesion, supporting a sense of belonging among colleagues.
Longmont is for pet lovers.
Longmont, a suburb on Colorado’s Front Range, is a pet-friendly city with more than 2,000 acres of parks and natural areas. It’s located in Weld and Boulder counties, home to many pet-friendly companies, including Google. Hinkle says the humane society’s adoption rates increased slightly during the first couple months of the pandemic — but those numbers remained steady year-over-year at the organization regardless of COVID-19, thanks in part to the city’s dog- and cat-adoring population.
“My theory is that because Longmont is such a pet-friendly place, we already have probably a higher demand and a more steady demand for dog and cat adoption than a lot of places in the nation probably do,” he says.