Workplaces Dog Friends: Some Considerations By Steph Rousseau



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In Europe, one in five workplaces now allow dogs. Technology companies and other innovative companies have led the way in this regard. In Ireland, Google, Hubspot, AirBnB and shared workspaces such as WeWork are among the best known companies for allowing dogs.

This is really not a surprise: the millennia, the generation that dominates more and more the active population, are owners of committed animals. Although less likely to be married or living with their partner, they are more likely to have pets than any other generation. Despite this increase in the number of pets, many companion dogs spend much of their time in social isolation.

Many are confined to homes, some in single rooms and others in small ages, while their owners often spend long hours at work. For a social species such as the dog, it is a very unnatural configuration and, unsurprisingly, many dogs suffer from separation anxiety.

The benefits of a dog at the workplace

For those whose employers are open to allowing dogs at the workplace, taking your dog to work can provide a host of benefits to everyone involved. By opening their doors to pet employees, employers benefit from:

An increase in employee productivity
Reduction of stress-related absenteeism
Increased recruitment;
Improvement of staff retention.

Staff members who share their workplace with dogs have:

Reduced levels of stress;
Increased job satisfaction;
Lowering blood pressure in stressful situations
Increased social interaction;
Increased cohesion and teamwork,
Improved mood.

My book on office dogs is now available for pre-order on Amazon!#officedogs #Intrement of dog

– Steph's dog training (@Steph__Rousseau) October 29, 2018

And dogs get one of the things that are most dear to them in this world. On top of that, they can benefit from a much more interesting life, experiment with new environments and interact with their colleagues – humans and canines. Without careful planning and consideration, adding a dog to the workplace can be a recipe for disaster!

It's unlikely that your nasty dog ​​running a riot at your workplace will reduce your stress level – or that of another person. I also had customers who had bought a puppy knowing that he / she could come to work. The suggestion of a puppy to join the job market has aroused boundless pleasure from their colleagues, but it's only for the same colleagues to quickly discover that the reality of having a puppy in the office was not really to their liking!

Challenges with dogs at the workplace

As for the challenges and risks badociated with the presence of dogs in the workplace, they exist. Fortunately, however, the growing number of companies opening their doors to pets testifies to the fact that they can be overcome. Among the most frequently cited concerns are:

A construction lease prohibiting the presence of pets – talk to the owner of the bargain for an exception. In this respect, it may be useful to have a clear policy regarding the rules governing the presence of dogs.

Staff members who are afraid or do not like dogs – dividing the workplace into areas dedicated to dogs and dog-free areas (or free-range dog areas and guard areas) can do a lot to appease nervous people or those who do not like dogs. .

Staff members with allergies – again, limiting the number of areas accessible to dogs and labeling accordingly can minimize the risks for people with allergies (and remember that the majority of the hand – Work owner pet will come to work with a dusting of allergens brought to pets. from home anyway!)

Dogs turn out to be a distraction – a recent study from the University of Lincoln suggests that the opposite is actually true!

After spending several years studying the phenomenon of dogs in the workplace and meeting office dogs and their humans in many areas, my number one tip for those considering working their dog is, to be honest. Be honest with yourself about your dog's personality and his adaptation to your work environment. If you have a dog barking hysterically every time someone moves, and you work in an office with about thirty people who are regularly on the move, you may want to reconsider your decision.

Be honest with your colleagues about what they can expect from your dog and what you expect from them. Does Fido roll in any puddles that he spends a rainy day and emits a wet dog smell for the rest of the day? If your dog is still a puppy, the reality is that puppies like to investigate things … with their teeth. Will your colleagues agree to not divulge and destroy the puppy?

For larger companies, the presence of dog-friendly and dog-free areas can go a long way towards keeping the less-fond side of dogs. As part of the research of my book, I realized a
An investigation of the attitude of people with regard to dogs at the workplace revealed that about 50% of people who opposed the idea of ​​"eating out" at the workplace having dogs in the workplace would be able to persuade if they could minimize their contact with the dogs in question through the implementation of dog protection measures. friendly areas and no dogs.

While the "Bring Your Dog to Work" day will take place on June 21, there is no better time to think about having dogs at work. For more tips on keeping your dog in the office as smooth as possible, consider bringing a copy of my book, Office Dogs: The Manual!

Steph Rousseau is a dog trainer and Irish behavior specialist who is particularly interested in dog facilitation in the workplace. His book Office Dogs: The Manual, published by Hubble & amp; Hattie is available on order at Amazon and you can follow her work on her website www.happyofficedogs.com or on Facebook & amp; Instagram- @HappyOfficeDogs


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