Fido-friendly: what you should consider before becoming a pet-friendly workplace

It's no secret there's a growing trend among companies to develop pet-friendly policies that allow employees to bring their favorite animals to work. The benefits of a pet-friendly workplace—often seen touted across social media—include increased productivity, retention, and well-being. Although corporate giants such as Google and Amazon have embraced this new culture and demonstrated its success, a pet-friendly workplace may not be for everyone or every company. The following are some things you should consider before becoming a pet-friendly workplace.

Benefits

The benefits of allowing pets in the workplace include stress reduction, talent acquisition and retention, and improved and increased social interactions among coworkers. Studies have found employees who bring their pets to work experience lower stress levels, report higher levels of job satisfaction, and feel a greater sense of loyalty to their employer.

In addition, pets can have a positive effect on the social interaction among employees. In fact, studies have observed an enhanced social atmosphere in offices that allow pets, resulting in an increase in conversation frequency and a closer bond among coworkers.

Challenges

Although the benefits of allowing pets in the workplace may be enticing, there are obviously some challenges you should consider. Pets' presence in the workplace can create health concerns and safety hazards for your employees.