(Pet friendly office designs are gaining popularity especially among millennial.)
Pet friendly offices have become popular across the world due to increasing number of people preferring to live alone. Much research is being conducted to know how staff becomes more productive and relaxed if they experience a welcoming environment for pets within their office spaces. Creating pet friendly office interiors is a carefully thought decision and it is important to consider some important things before establishing a pet friendly work place.
Considering the fact that owning a pet is linked to stress relief and improved health, being able to bring pets at workplace is more than just boosting the mood of your staff. You could choose to discuss at a meeting, chat in the lounge area, conduct a survey so that you are sure that all your employees are comfortable with the idea. The idea will only be successful when majority are interested for which a straight forward discussion is important.
Bringing pets at work place is known to give a boost to employees morale and increase happiness levels thus making them feel more content with their work. Although these places have witnessed increased preference but are not common. Thus having those wagging tails around at work will increase your employee retention as they will prefer the companies which enable them to do so. Without impacting productivity levels, pets help improve work balance. They will also help you bridge the gap between life at home and at work place.
(Video Credits: Petcentric)
Have you noticed how often do you stop to talk to someone with cute pets? having pets has always proven to boost communication. The same will happen at the work places with pets. Colleagues who usually don’t have direct professional relations and interact rarely can strike up a conversation as they stop for the pet. This will not only build relations among various departments at your office but also harmonize the work spaces. These pets will help boost energy, morale and moods thus creating a positive environment, showing your acceptance and flexibility to harness the maximum productivity of your employees. But you should know that you will need ample of vacant space to create a comfort and hassle free environment at offices.
Allowing pets at your office spaces will not only be helpful for your employees but also give a boost to your business reputation. It will improve client’s perception towards the business as most customers will have a positive response when they are offered chance to interact with pets while they visit for business. This will soften company’s image and thus making business seem more progressive and forward thinking. Just a female candidates prefer work places with generous child care policies and maternity perks, similarly pet lovers will be attracted towards the must desired perks thus drawing loyal employees. Having pet friendly office policies could be one of the ways to attract and retail talent, particularly the millennial within your organisation.
(Pets at offices are known to relieve stress and boost employee morale.)
Before you plan to transform your workplace into a pet friendly office, you will need to make sure that you have enough space to accommodate those furry members of your team. Also, you will need some space outside those office walls to let them relax during those working hours. Get to know the details and rules, if any about the restrictions as per the corporate norms on establishing a pet at offices. If there are no such restriction, work out a pet policy with your team. Take time to do so, as you cannot hurry with these things so as to avoid any negative consequences. Decide the areas where pets are not allowed and what types of pets are allowed within the office. You can even lay down the procedure for screening before allowing any pets within the office. Therefore, the employees will need to properly train their pets.
When you will be setting up a pet friendly work space, you will need the pet supplies in hand to be sure that they are safe and comfortable throughout the time they are in the office. Though employees are needed to bring pet supplies for their pets, it is an extra benefit to have things like water bowls, poop bags, extra leashes, toys and carpet cleaners at office. You will also need to keep some chew able supplies within the office so that your furniture isn’t spoiled. You may need to block some areas with furniture which have possibility of being damaged. But before you start welcoming be sure that you have informed your employees about the policy to avoid any hassle later.
(Having pets at offices will also give a boost to your business reputation.)
Sometime, having such a work place could have its own disadvantages as well. The pet owners and coworkers might stay distracted thus hampering their productivity. Also, not all the workers are pet lovers and pet friendly policies are not suitable for certain businesses or professional environment. Some pets, who are well trained might cause damage to company’s property. Therefore not all pets are perfect for office environment and not all employees like being around pets. Also, drafting a pet friendly policy might not always be feasible and difficult to follow. Some people might even experience allergies with pets which could range from mild to severe thus take into consideration every member at your office.
A PAWrometer survey states that 82 percent of employees and 91 percent of HR decision makers said that allowing pets in the workplace would make employees more loyal to the company. Therefore taking a decision to design a pet friendly office is not an overnight task. The careful implementation of these rules and policies can prove to be productive and efficient. In fact if not always you could declare and unofficial day when you could allow your employees to get pets at work. Make sure to weigh the pros and cons before taking the step further towards a workplace with pets.
