One of the strongest trends in recent years is the presence of pets in general and dogs in particular in the workplace. If in the past this was strictly forbidden, today there are companies that encourage their employees to bring their private animals to work – but that doesn't mean they all do.
According to an online survey of 503 people aged 18 and over conducted by the Rushinek Survey Institute at the initiative of the international candy and food giant Mars (which produces sweets and chocolates such as Snickers, M&M's and Twix) on the occasion of "Bring Your Dog to Work" on Friday, only about a quarter of employees in the free market report that they are able to bring their dog with them to work, despite the fact that almost half of the respondents agree that the presence of dogs in their workplace contributes to improved productivity in the office. Mars itself, by the way, allows its employees to come to the workplace with any pet – not just dogs or cats, but even rabbits and hamsters.
The positive experience experienced by quite a few employees has been backed up by a number of studies carried out in recent years on the subject. One of them, carried out at the prestigious Columbia University, found through a sample of a certain hormone in saliva that employees who brought their dogs to the office had lower stress levels and also reported an increase in their productivity compared to their colleagues. A similar study, conducted at Hiroshima University in Japan, found that pictures of puppies improve concentration and the ability to focus on tasks, and the University of Michigan, also from the United States, found that the presence of dogs in the workplace increases teamwork and collaboration.
Cute - and contributes to increasing productivity. The dog Toffee at the offices of Mars, where her owner Kelly works, photo: Kelly Levine
Beauty of health
One of the main benefits of having dogs at work is reducing stress for most employees and increasing productivity. Employees who take small breaks from work to care for a dog tend to be more productive than those who work non-stop. Also, working with dogs are healthier, as they do more exercise thanks to the dog that needs to be taken out for a walk. Pet friendly businesses have more loyal employees and are also much more attractive to future employees.
"We work for people and their pets to live healthy and happy lives in a world free of environmental pollution, and do everything we can to produce sustainably sourced pet food packaged in packaging that can be recycled, reused or compotized," says Naama Moshkovitz, Director of Corporate Communications at Mars Wrigley Israel and the Baltic States. "The connection between people and their pets is important to us, which is why we have been allowing pets to be brought to the offices for years. We've seen happier, more productive employees, along with laid-back pets that allow all office colleagues moments of comfort and refreshment."
Employees are happier too. Dogs in the office, photo: Meital Eckstein
Rest, food and consideration for others
If you're lucky enough to work at a job that allows you to bring your dog, there are a few important things you should take care of in advance – whether you haven't done so yet or if you've already brought it several times.
Before you come to work with your dog, take him out so that he uses the energy he accumulated during the night and doesn't run around afterwards. Dogs are much calmer and more relaxed after exercising, so if you come to work with a car, it is recommended to park 3-2 kilometers from the workplace, and do the rest of the way by walking to expend energy and free up before entering the office.
Make sure your pet is clean and doesn't disturb other workers with an unpleasant odor that may arise from it.
While pets make the office friendlier, it's still a good idea to consider all factors in the work environment. It's important for everyone to support the program to make it work, or at least to adapt the program to everyone, even if there's at least one person in the office who is afraid of dogs.
Don't forget to follow the rules. Dogs in the office, photo: Meital Eckstein
If your dog is in the office for the first time, move him through the entire office so he can smell it all and get to know its surroundings. Most importantly, do not allow it to mark the area – it must be done during regular excursions!
Create a soft dog rest area next to your work area where your pet can feel cozy and safe. Do not allow her to choose her own corner, as this can make her want to defend her territory.
Provide water and food for your dog, but keep in mind that during your lunch break you'll likely need to take the dog for a walk outside the office walls. If you don't want office workers to give him food he might be sensitive to or unaccustomed to, mention this in advance to avoid discomfort.
It is worth remembering that in Israel, neither the Labor Law nor the Labor Protection Law regulate the presence of animals in the workplace. Therefore, bringing a pet to your workplace is a regulation determined solely by the employer.
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