When you look at your desk, you probably have photos of your spouse, your children, and your pets. While employees sometimes appreciate a few hours away from the human members of the family, most miss having their favorite pet snuggled up in their lap or snoozing loudly from the nearest piece of furniture. If you are looking to improve employee morale, you may want to consider inviting furry friends to the office.

Even rock stars hate to be away from their pets. It’s been reported that many musicians bring their animals on tour or to the “office.”  From Slash’s pet snake to Blake Shelton’s dog Betty, the more time spent with their pets, the better. Your rock star employees are no different!

The Benefits of Pets in the Workplace

There are so many benefits to having dogs at the office:

Improve the Health and Happiness of your Employees

A research study by the School of Business, Virginia Commonwealth University found that employees who brought their dogs to work had less stress than those who didn’t. Petting a dog for just a few minutes lowers blood pressure. The Human Animal Bond Research Initiative Foundation also found that having pets in the workplace improves employee teamwork, satisfaction, and productivity.

Increase Energy

Do you have employees that barely break away from their computers to go to the restroom, never mind to eat lunch or get fresh air? Having a dog in the office ensures that employees will take breaks throughout the day to refresh and clear their heads. When they return to their computers, they’ll be more productive.

Improve Dedication

Almost every pet parent has a set number of hours that they can leave their dog alone. Often, this is roughly the same amount of time that they work. Add in a commute, and employees are rushing off the moment the clock signals the end of the workday.  If their pets are already at the office, enjoying a steady stream of love, attention, and potty breaks, your employees will be more likely to stick around to finish a project.

Increase Loyalty

When you treat your employees right and go above and beyond to make them feel comfortable and appreciated, they’re more likely to stick around. Replacing the occasional square of carpet is less expensive than hiring and training new employees on a regular basis.

Tips for Bringing Pets Into the Office

If you like the idea of having pets in the workplace but you imagine your workspace turning into a circus, don’t worry. There are many ways to keep the office a safe and productive environment.

1. All dogs must be up to date on vaccines in order to come to work.
2. Dogs must be well behaved and leashed whenever in common areas.
3. Consider requiring baby gates for each office so that the door can be open, yet the dog still contained.
4. Owners should keep their dogs well groomed.
5. If the pet has any allergies, this should be listed on the office door so they aren’t given treats that could hurt them.
6. When a new dog is introduced, they should meet on neutral territory (like outside of the building).
7. Provide an outside potty area with plenty of clean-up bags so they surrounding areas don’t become minefields.
8. Discuss expectations with your staff so they understand what is required when bringing a dog to the office.

“A hero is someone who understands the responsibility that comes with his freedom.” – Bob Dylan

Whether you choose to create a dog-friendly workplace every day, or welcome dogs to the office once or twice a week, this gesture will go a long way to creating happy, healthy, productive employees. Marvelless Mark® tells his clients that If you want your employees to produce rock star results, treat them like rock stars.

Mark Kamp® aka Marvelless Mark® works with organizations who want their teams to achieve immediate rock star results. A Keynote Speaker/Entertainer/Author, Husband, Father, and child of God, his primary message, “Opportunity Rocks®” gives attendees a fresh new perspective on Sales, Marketing, and Employee Performance. Fun and engaging, Mark combines the success secrets of your favorite rock stars with just the right amount of entertainment to transform your employees into business rockstars. Learn more at www.OpportunityRocks.net.