As of: February 4, 2024, 2:30 p.m
By: Julia Mey
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Around 10 million dogs live in Germany.
The furry friends reduce our stress levels, increase well-being and even ensure more productivity in the office.
An office dog in an open-plan office can be a benefit for everyone involved.
This can now even be scientifically proven.
Your employer isn't quite convinced yet?
Then perhaps the following arguments will help.
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Dog in the office: This is how companies benefit
According to the Bundesverband Bürohund eV,
office dogs are
an asset for every company.
The animal colleagues contribute to healthy and productive employees and thus reduce medical costs and absenteeism rates.
Among other things, the number of mental illnesses has been increasing continuously for several years.
Even if the four-legged friends cannot work themselves, they contribute significantly to a positive office atmosphere.
(Symbolic image) © Westend61/Imago
In addition, a dog in the office makes you happy.
And not just his master or mistress, but also the employees around him.
According to the Bundesverband Bürohund eV
, new team members
can be integrated more easily with its help and job advertisements with the note “office dog” automatically attract more attention from potential applicants.
Another advantage that the federal association highlights on its website: dogs improve the image.
If the employer regularly presents itself on social media, the friendly fur nose in the (moving) image ensures additional reach.
The office dog in studies: It has been proven to reduce stress
An experimental study from Virginia Commonwealth University shows that employees with office dogs were less stressed during the workday.
A study by Uppsala University in Sweden deals with dog ownership in general.
She provided evidence that owning a dog actually improves the health of its owner.
In an exercise study, the scientists found, among other things, that owners of dogs have to go to hospital significantly less often because of cardiovascular diseases.
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Dog in the office: This checklist will make it work
Even though there is much to suggest that office dogs have a positive impact on the work-life balance, offices are primarily designed for people.
And not every colleague is automatically a dog lover.
If you would like to take your dog with you to work, please note the following checklist:
The employer must give his okay.
Not every workplace is suitable for dogs.
According to
TÜV-Nord,
an occupational health and safety risk assessment is also necessary.
Your dog needs space, his own blanket/dog basket, a water and food bowl and the opportunity to go for a walk every now and then.
All colleagues in the office must agree.
Does your counterpart have an allergy to animal hair?
Then an office dog is out of the question.
Agree on fixed rules in advance.
One example could be that your dog is not allowed to move freely in the house.
Your dog must not disrupt operational processes.
Take out dog liability insurance.
Even a well-trained dog causes damage from time to time.
Tip:
If your employer has given the go-ahead, complete a “trial work day” with your dog.
This way, the boss and colleagues can get to know the four-legged companion and get a feel for what everyday office life might be like.