Many people throughout the U.S. have worked from home for the past couple of years. During that time, they’ve grown used to hanging with their pets. This has raised the question of whether pets should be allowed in the office space. If this is something you’re considering, here are some things to remember.
Reasons to Let Pets in the Workplace
Dogs are the most common pets in the workplace, but some companies also allow their employees to bring other animals. There are a few benefits to allowing this, including:
- It’s great for employee recruitment and retention. Since the pandemic, many people (especially millennials and Gen Z employees) have wanted to bring their pets into their workplace so they don’t have to pay for daycare and can stay late when necessary.
- It can improve employee morale because you’re showing your employees that you care about them. This will make them feel happier to come to work.
- It can help employees bond, which can encourage better work. This is because it can be easier for employees to talk about their pets when breaking the ice. Eventually, these interactions can lead to increased innovation, collaboration, and teamwork.
- It can make employees healthier. Physically, it encourages employees to stand up and move around to walk or play with their pets. Having pets in the workplace can also improve your employees’ mental health because it’ll reduce their stress. This is something that employers should be concerned about because when employees are less stressed, they’ll have fewer stress-related injuries and illnesses, which results in lower healthcare costs.
- It can help keep employees from burning out since pets will make them feel happy. When they feel this way, they’ll dive into their work for hours without taking breaks. Fortunately, their pets will encourage them to take an occasional break, so they have time to mentally reset throughout the day.
Reasons Not to Allow Pets in the Workplace
While there are several benefits to allowing pets to share your employees’ office space, this isn’t always a viable option. There are some reasons for this, including:
- Some employees may be allergic to or afraid of animals. Pets in your office space can threaten their well-being and sense of safety. It’s important to respect and accommodate all of your employees.
- It may not be conducive to creating a safe, sanitary work environment. In fact, some office spaces can’t allow employees into their workplace (e.g., sterile environments, places where food is handled, construction sites, machining facilities, mining operations). As an employee, you should understand that this is because your employer cares about your pet’s health and safety.
- Some people may find it distracting to have pets in the workplace and become less productive. This happens when someone spends too much time taking care of their pets.
- Your landlord may not allow pets in your office space. Even if you want to allow your employees to bring their pets with them, you need to talk to your landlord first.
- Bringing employees into the work environment increases the business’ responsibility and liability. You’ll be held responsible for when one of the pets injures someone and for any property damage that may occur. Unfortunately, even the best-behaved pets can snap and bite someone or destroy something.
Tips for Allowing Pets in the Workplace
There are many considerations regarding whether to allow pets in your office space. If you decide that this is the right decision for your business, you’ll need to draft a comprehensive pet policy. You may also determine that you need to rearrange some furniture. In that case, we want you to know that we’re here for you at Quality Installers in Tampa, FL. Contact us today.
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