by Jill Klinedinst
Like most businesses, you’re probably wondering how you can get the most from your employees. Maybe you want to increase productivity, decrease absenteeism or simply make the work environment a little more comfortable. There’s an easy way to do all of these things – a simple four letter word: DOGS.
Not what you were thinking, right? Take it from a team of professionals who have been bringing their canines to work for years – dogs boost office morale and productivity. “The dogs in our office have a way of keeping me grounded,” says Ryan Faist, Writer at Big Idea Company, who does not own a dog, but gets his fill at work. “It’s hard to be stressed out with a German Shorthaired Pointer looking out my window at the people outside. Sometimes I take a break from my work and look with him. You’d be surprised how spending a few minutes with a dog can help clear your mind.” Daily 4 to 5-minute walks for potty breaks in the sunshine also do a great job at reinvigorating employees.
And you don’t have to take our word for it. Take Google’s word for it too! One of the most-successful companies in the world, Google has been inviting well-behaved dogs to work since they were founded. But even Google would tell you that there’s data to back up the claim that dogs are good for business.
For example, in a recent study conducted by the American Pet Products Manufacturers Association, 73 percent of all businesses that allow pets find that work environment is more productive, 27 percent of those same businesses reported a decrease in staff absenteeism, and 96 percent reported that pets created positive working relations among staff members.
So there you go. But before you go unleashing Fido and Fluffy, there are a few things to consider. Here are five tips on how to maintain a peaceful, dog-friendly workplace.
Hound Health
Be sure all dogs in your office are up-to-date on vaccinations, and are on flea and heartworm preventative medications. Sick dogs can spread their germs to other dogs in your office. So, just like people, when a dog gets sick, they should stay home and rest until they’re well enough to come back to work.
Doggy Rules
Establish rules, and stick to them. If dogs need to be ‘put away’ when clients visit, do it. Your clients will appreciate it, and so will your dogs. They learn from routines. By disciplining dogs whenever they misbehave, they will quickly develop manners. Dogs need to know that it’s not okay to run, bark or jump at office visitors. But make sure you’re fair with your discipline. Don’t let one dog get away with something another dog just got scolded for. They need consistency to learn what is right and wrong.
Puppy Pee and Poo
All office dogs must be house-broken, or in this case, office-broken. They need to be able to express their need to ‘do their business’ outside, and do it only there. Of course, accidents will happen – it’s a part of canine nature – but they should be infrequent, and always followed by doggy discipline and prompt cleaning.
Canine Manners
Office dogs must get along well with others. They must never show aggression towards other dogs or people. There’s no place for aggressive or bad-tempered dogs at work – ever.
Doggy Daycare
Office dogs need to be able to entertain themselves. After all, you’re running a business, not a doggy daycare. You need to be able to concentrate on your work. So bring things like toys, chews, beds and other things that will keep your dogs happy and occupied.
By adhering to these simple rules, you will not only make your pooches happy by letting them spend more time with you, but also create a better work environment for dog lovers. There might be a little more work for your cleaning crew (think dog hair and extra dirt), but the benefits of a dog-friendly workplace will far outweigh the minor inconveniences.
Of course, dog-friendly workplaces are not appropriate for every business (such as financial institutions or retail outlets). If you work in places like these, consider asking your boss if you can take your pooch to work on the fourth Friday in June. This is national “Take Your Dog to Work Day.” For the past 10 years, this annual event has encouraged employers across the country to sample the experience of having pets in the workplace for one day. And every year, companies all across the country have decided to do what Google has done. Every year, they add a few four-legged friends to the permanent office personnel pool and everyone wins.
Tags: Advertising, Marketing, Public Relations