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Bring your Dog to Work Day: Why employers should embrace it
This year bosses across the UK are being encouraged to ‘Bring your dog to work’ with the intention of making the workplace a more relaxed, productive, enjoyable place.
On first impressions this may seem like an indulgence, however, it turns out that there’s a strong rationale for a dog friendly attitude in the workplace.
Why Bring Your Dog to Work Day should be embraced in 2020
Social Support
Dogs are a source of social support for employees. A dog is always happy to see you, regardless of your mood. So it’s no wonder that dogs make humans feel better, improving their social life in a very direct way.
Encourage Exercise
Dogs encourage owners to take exercise. Employees with their dogs at work are likely to get out and about at coffee breaks. The physical exercise will help with their state of mind and productivity for the rest of the day.
Reduce Stress
Petting a dog can help reduce stress. The process stroking a dog can reduce blood pressure and change your physiological state into a more relaxed one. Dogs in your office can therefore reduce the overall stress of the workplace
Fewer Sick Days
Pet ownership has a number of positive health benefits, including fewer visits to the doctor. Letting employees bring their dogs to work can encourage pet ownership and therefore may reward you with fewer sick days.
Social Connections
Dogs act as a social lubricant, increasing the ease and frequency of conversations between friends, colleagues and strangers. This means that the human social connections in your workplace can be enhanced when dogs are among your team.
Increase Happiness
A Dogs At Work policy is often viewed by employees as a valuable employment perk. A recent study showed that over two fifths (43%) of employees would like to see pets allowed in the office. 39% felt that pets at work would increase their productivity. 50% said it would increase their happiness, and a significant proportion of workers would be prepared to stay at work for longer if pets were there with them.
For other ways to improve your workplace wellbeing strategy click here
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