Bring Fido To Work? Yup! 5 Top Reasons Why More Companies Allow Pets

Imagine getting up in the morning, donning your business attire and walking out the door with your briefcase and a leash with your dog attached!  Just the simple fact of knowing that your pet is not going to be left alone all day has proven to reduce stress at the workplace.

Many companies have dedicated days which allow employees to bring their pet to work.  Some are once a year, once a month, once a week, but more and more companies are “pet-friendly.”

“Pet presence may serve as a low-cost, wellness intervention readily available to many organizations,” says Randolph Barker, professor of management in the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Business.  The study showed that as the day wore on, employees who did not bring their pets to work showed and increase in stress as opposed to those who were able to bring their pets.

A retail business in Greensboro, North Carolina was the site of Barker’s study.  450 workers completed surveys and had their saliva tested for signs of stress. The campus had anywhere from 20 to 30 dogs and cats on premise on any given day.  The completed results proved that employees who had their pets had lower stress and increased productivity.  Therefore showing that having pets is beneficial to employees.