According to the American Kennel Club, about 68% of households in the United States own a pet, with 60.2 million of those pets being dogs. And one poll conducted by the American Pet Products Manufacturers Association revealed that around 17% of working Americans reported that their company permits pets at work. Some of the more notable organizations that permit pets at work include Google, Amazon, and Etsy.
But before your organization joins this growing trend of permitting pets in the workplace, there are some pros and cons to consider. Keep reading to learn more.
Pros
Pets reduce stress. One 2012 study found that individuals who brought their dogs to work had decreased hormonal stress levels when compared with those employees who did not bring any pets to work. And multiple other studies have also revealed that when pets are present in the workplace, employees are less stressed while performing tasks and even have decreased blood pressure.
Pets increase work performance. Studies have also revealed that employees perform better at work when their pet is present, especially when they’re completing stress-inducing tasks. And because employees are happier and less stressed at work when their pets are present, their overall productivity rates are much higher.
Additionally, when employees don’t have to rush home to let their pets have a bathroom break or to feed them, they’re more likely to stay at work for longer periods of time without being distracted or stressed.
Pets can increase rates of collaboration. It’s been reported that having pets present at work has a positive effect on the social interactions among employees. When pets are present in the workplace, employees are more likely to talk to one another and form more positive relationships and have more conversations.
Cons
Accommodating pets in the workplace might be challenging or expensive. If your employees bring their pets to work often, you’ll have to have a designated area for them to go to the bathroom and take breaks. And you’ll need to hire staff to clean up pet hair and dander in the workplace so that it doesn’t become unclean. This can potentially be an added maintenance expense.
Pets in the workplace can be distracting. Not all pets will be well-behaved or calm. Dogs that bark a lot, for instance, can cause a huge commotion in the workplace. And pet owners, in general, might want to take more frequent breaks to play with their pets and spend time with their pets.
Pets can be a liability or a health hazard. If one employee’s pet bites, scratches, or injures another employee, there is an obvious concern of liability in the workplace. In addition, some employees who don’t have pets might be highly allergic to pet dander and hair and will be unable to work in conditions where animals are present, even if they like having them around.
Be sure to consider the pros and cons listed above before you allow your employees to bring their pets to work.