SLN FEB 2018

Section B 4 February Edition Seven Lakes News
Pets in the Workplace Benefit Work-Life Balance
Companies such as Digital Works
a company where my son Brandon
the Managing Software Engineer for
a San Francisco custom software
development company, has been
open to pets in the workplace due
to their affect on work-life balance.
Mike Teresa Salyer & Diesel
Mikes Tire & Auto Service
Both employers and employees
stated it helps them pass long work
hours happily, and the pets remind
them to take necessary breaks.
Spending too much time too close
to a project, problem, or other work
can inhibit productivity and cause
unnecessary stress. Pets remind
people to pause and step back
from whatever they are involved in.
“We had a bring-your-pet policy for
about a year before we had to end
it,” says Casey Halloran, founder
and CEO, Namu Travel Group. “The
problem: not everybody loves pets.
We had a handful of staff who really
suffered from allergies and/
or didn’t enjoy animals around.
Our rule going into the experiment
was simple: If it really bothers one
person, it ends. And so, to the chagrin
of some pet lovers, it ended.”
Jeff Bennett & Molly
Seven Lakes Marine
Short walks, a little playtime,
and temporary distractions allow
mental breaks so as not to
overwork and become stressed.
Other companies, like Etsy, allow
pets in the workplace to keep spirits
high and add a little comic relief.
Laughter and positivity is just as
contagious as negativity and stress,
but come with benefits like great
morale and better communication.
Studies prove that pets have calming
effects, reduce blood pressure,
lower stress, and make employees
more cordial and productive.
More and more, employers and employees
are discovering that pets at
the workplace make them happier,
lower stress levels, and create a
comfortable, flexible environment.
Pets can create camaraderie
within the workplace and trigger
interactions that may not
have happened without them.
Better communication leads to
more trust, a key component in
a successful work environment.
Debbie Adoree & Jazz
Seven Lakes Kennels
Trust and communication rival
stress and promote productivity,
causing improved morale
and reduced absenteeism.
Furthermore, reduced stress
means less stress-related ailments
and the healthcare
costs that accompany them.
Vets have recently obtained data to
prove pets are good for your health.
Toni Lanni & Capone
Seven Lakes Memory Care
Prior to this information, studies were
comprised of qualitative data that reinforced
pets’ benefits on people. Now
there is data that actually shows how
pets have saved American dollars.
“Even the most docile of dogs could
become hostile in an unfamiliar environment
or around other pets, so
make sure you’re covered in the
event that a dog [or cat] acts out,”
says Terrie Ard, president, Moore
Communications Group. “In some
cases, you may want to consider
having employees sign paperwork
committing to covering any
damage caused by their pet.”
Julie Watson & Ava
Pampered Paws
Pets, as wonderful as they can
be, can also be a distraction. So
to ensure productivity doesn’t dip
(and to be sensitive to those who
may not want pets around all the
time), designate certain days, or
one day a week, as pet-friendly
days, or bring-your-pet-to-work day.
Gayle Mace & Kay-leigh
Mace Electric
At Petplan they have a Pets at Work
shared calendar that our team uses
to sign up for the days they’d like
to bring their pet in,” says Natasha
Ashton, founder, PetPlan, a pet insurance
provider. “At Petplan we
have a Pets at Work shared calendar
that our team uses to sign up for the
days they’d like to bring their pet in,”
explains Natasha Ashton, cofounder,
PetPlan, a pet insurance provider.
“The calendar lets everyone see which
pets are scheduled to be in the office
to ensure that all furry friends on the
day get along with one another. We
would recommend that any company
considering going pet-friendly put
a communication system in place,”
“It’s a lot more distracting to have an
animal join meetings than it is to have
them wandering the main floor [or
parked in an office],” says Talia Shani,
head of Content at Yotpo.com, a customer
content marketing company.
Tim Read & Zoey
Sandhills Colission Center
So before you allow employees to bring
in their dogs or cats, “set some ground
rules for where pets can roam free,
and where they should steer clear.”
“Things like cables, cords and open
trash bins can all be tempting for
pets,” “Take the time to pet proof
your office space to be sure it’s safe
for your furriest team members.
Victoria Levinger & Shelby
Seven Lakes News
132.8 million pet owners save $11.37
billion on physician office visits, while
20 million owners who walk their pets
5 times a week show lower obesity
and save $419 million in healthcare.
Pets can now be identified as a proactive
method of staying healthy and
avoiding health issues, thus saving
money on a personal, professional,
governmental, and medical scale.
By: Victoria Levinger