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Sparkle (2)
Years ago, I worked at a small town newspaper where "Office Dog" was a regular position on the masthead. (Including a dog named Do who was verbally hard to chastise: "Do! Don't!") Workplace pets are surely on the rise but working like a dog (or rather, alongside one) isn't for everyone. Nevertheless, 75 million Americans believe pets in the workplace make people happier.
Dogs, the most common workplace pets, have long been viewed as a social catalysts, greasing the wheels of friendship or at least happy acquaintance-ship. (Think about how many strangers you meet through your dog.) But supporters of workplace pets regularly cite stress reduction as the major benefit, particularly among pet owners who would otherwise worry about a home-alone pet all day long. In 2008, the American Pet Products Manufacturers conducted a poll on the topic, finding that 17 percent of Americans work at pet-friendly companies and 23 percent believe pets should be allowed in the workplace.
"I would be sad if I thought I couldn't bring my pet to work right now because I've gotten so used to it. It's not just about having a pet. It really helps you to feel good some days when you need a soft hug."
--Wendy Wheeler, co-owner, New Moon Gallery
As workplace perks decline, pet-friendly policies can replace costlier benefits. Fido at your feet might not equate with free Diet Coke, but hey, it's something. Companies with dog-friendly policies include some major players, like Purina, Google and Amazon. But more often than not, it's the medium-to-smaller companies that indulge, such as cosmetics peddler, Urban Decay (based in Newport Beach, CA), and Healthwise, a non-profit health information provider based in Boise, ID.
"In fact, cubicles bear a strong resemblance to kennels. Dogs probably adapt better than we do to a cubicle environment."
--Jennifer Fearing, co-author of Dogs at Work: A Practical Guide To Creating Dog-Friendly Workplaces
Early last year, USA Today did a story on Replacements Ltd., a company based in Greensboro, NC that provides replacements for china, crystal and silver. Although there were 20-30 animals in the building (including cats and rabbits) nothing had yet been broken. Amazing but true.
There's even an annual Take Your Dog To Work Day (next up: June 24, 2011) created by Pet Sitters International in 1999. (Though they stole the idea from the Brits, who launched it in 1996.) Initially, about 300 companies participated and in 2004, approximately 10,000 companies opened their doggie doors. Have you heard of any companies participating in this?
“If you bring your dog in, you also need to keep an eye on Spot’s whereabouts during the day. So, having a marathon all-day meeting and having your dog here on the same day probably isn’t advisable. Someone’s Fido got into someone’s office on Friday and pillaged through a private stash of Pop-Tarts. (Yes, if your dog had crumbs on her muzzle, she is the guilty party.)”
--2007 memo to employees of Archer Malmo, a Memphis-based marketing agency
Of course, there are downsides to having a pet in the office, namely, allergies -- and that's a big one. Not to mention concerns about smell, bad behavior (unwanted aggressiveness or friendliness) and general distraction. A company should also be sensitive to the fact that some folks are scared of certain animals or just don't like them. Then there's the potential for an animal creating a hazard by being underfoot. A potential employee should be made aware of any animal presence in the office before being hired, that's for darn sure. And because this the United States of America, liability hazards abound.
An informal survey among my BlogHer colleagues brought some interesting perspectives:
"A woman at my old office couldn't have my dog in there due to allergies - no way I could have made it a common thing. And I learned from my ex who was dreadfully allergic to dogs (that was no faking) that it could really be an issue."
--Laurie White
"Yeah, gotta second that allergy concern being upper most in my mind. My second concern is grooming and natural doggy smells. Honest, I like dogs but not at the work place where I have to contend with aftershave, perfume, people's lunches and "What the heck is coming out of the air vent?"
If it is an environment where everybody is on
