Dog Friendly Offices
Bringing dogs to work is becoming increasingly popular as more companies realise the benefits of having pets in the workplace.
Some of the UK’s most progressive employers including Google, Ticketmaster and Salesforce all have pets at work policies in place which allow employees to bring their furry friends into the office every day.
It turns out these companies are onto a good thing because bringing your dog into the office has many benefits for both employers and employees.
If you are looking for a dog friendly office, just call us directly and we can advise on dog friendly offices in a location you want: 0800 611 8150
3 Benefits of having dogs in the office
- Allows employers to show they care: Dog-friendly offices make companies look like good employers. This allows them to attract and retain the best staff while also benefiting from the other benefits that dogs in the office bring.
- Helps to promote a healthy work-life balance: Having pets around reminds employees to take regular breaks away from their desks. A few minutes playtime with your dog or a quick walk around the block does wonders for morale and general well-being. Research has shown that dogs also help to promote interactions between staff. This can help new employees integrate into the team quicker while encouraging existing employees to make new friends.
- Helps to reduce stress and absenteeism: Having dogs in the workplace can also help to boost morale and job satisfaction rates while reducing stress levels and absenteeism. A survey by BlueCross showed that 90% of companies reported seeing a positive change in the working environment, while one in two companies reported a decrease in absenteeism.
Check out the dog friendly offices in each UK city…
Serviced offices allow dogs too
As competition in the serviced office market continues to heat up, many flexible office providers are starting to allow dogs to help them attract occupants.
WeWork was one of the first to allow dogs in all locations and even developed its own Instagram page #dogsofwework to show off the pooches that come to work each day.
WeWork has locations in most major cities in the UK, including the impressive One St Peter’s Square, Manchester and 151 Wardour Street, Soho, London, which is optimised for creative types.
The Office Group also allow dogs in all their facilities across the UK including the trendy offices at 133 Whitechapel High Street, Aldgate and No.1 Aire Street, Leeds.
Bruntwood, which is one of the largest operators of serviced office space in the Midlands and North West, also has a selection of dog-friendly offices. One of the most popular locations is the superb loft offices in the Cornwall Buildings, Birmingham which is located in the heart of the cities trendy Jewellery Quarter.
Tips for bringing your dog to work
While dog-friendly offices bring many benefits, there are some challenges to think about as well. So if you are thinking about taking your dog to work, here are a few tips to ensure everything goes smoothly for you and your dog.
- Maintain good health and hygiene standards – Just like employees, dogs must be in good health to prevent the spread of disease. So ensure your dog is free from fleas and has been properly vaccinated before taking him to work with you.
- Make sure your dog is potty trained – You should ensure your dog is properly potty trained before taking him to the office. The odd accident is acceptable, but repeated occurrences are likely to get your pooch expelled.
- Ensure your dog can behave – Another concern is the behaviour of your dog towards humans and other dogs. While most dogs will play happily together, some breeds can be aggressive which will cause issues. Some companies solve this problem by putting dogs on a probationary period to show they can behave, before allowing them to stay full time.
- Inquire about colleagues with allergies – It is estimated that around 1 in 10 Brits are allergic to some form of pet allergen. So if your dog is a breed which is known to cause allergic reactions, it’s a good idea to make sure no one in the office suffers from pet allergens before taking him to work with you.
So taking your dog to work is great for both you and your dog. You will benefit from reduced stress levels, regular breaks away from your desk and stronger relationships with colleagues. While your dog will be able to spend more time with you and will benefit from being around other dogs all day.
And with many serviced office spaces now making it easy to bring your pooch to work, there is no excuse to leave him at home. Just make sure you follow the tips above and you and your furry friend will get along just fine.