Pets in the office boost productivity

The benefits of having an office pet.

Written by

Rubenius Team

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O

ffice pets are a wonderful addition to any workplace. They're cute. They're soft and warm (at least some are). They also bring joy to others.

But which pet is best for your workplace? In this article, we'll go over the advantages of having an office pet and offer some advice on how to make your workplace pet-friendly.

Creating positive impact with animals in the workplace

Animals in the workplace boost employee morale and engagement while also relieving stress. Caring for a pet improves employees' empathy, responsibility, and sociability, all of which are desirable traits. Animals provide health benefits such as regular exercise, enhanced mental wellness, and even a reduced risk of various diseases. Having an office pet will also earn the company brownie points with employees, clients, and brand lovers.

Pet ownership has long been known and documented for its positive impacts, both anecdotally and in consensus studies. Caring for a pet benefits people in a variety of ways; pet owners have greater self-esteem and exercise than non-pet owners, which leads to concrete benefits like lower blood pressure and weight reduction. It's no surprise, then, that pets provide "many significant psychological and physical benefits for their owners," according to a study: https://psycnet.apa.org/doiLanding?doi=10.1037%2Fa 0024506

“Allowing pets in the workplace clears the mind, promotes well-being, and enhances teamwork and productivity. There are even dog breeds that are designated as therapy dogs.”

What kinds of pets make suitable office pets?

Pets that are fun to play with and make less mess are the best kind of office pets. Cats, dogs, fish, hamsters, and lizards make excellent workplace pets.

In general, avoid any aggressive, filthy, or high- maintenance animals because the disadvantages may outweigh the benefits.

Pros of having a pet in the office to boost your productivity

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Improved Mood

In a fast-paced office atmosphere, maintaining morale is challenging. An office pet can help to smooth out the highs and lows, bringing office morale back to a more stable level.

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Communication improves

A cuddly cat or adorable dog is one of the best icebreakers. The presence of animals in the office encourages employees to take a break from their work and talk with their co-workers about something other than work. That one variable can help your team's long-term communication as well as interpersonal relationships.

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Stress Reduction

Stress can have a deleterious effect on how your team members operate and substantially distract from their drive. Office pets help relieve stress and keep staff happy even during periods of high activity.

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Productivity Improvements

Another challenging office element to maintain is productivity. However, the combination of lower stress and improved morale that comes with having a pet tends to boost productivity.

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Improved Collaboration

An office pet has a big impact on how your co-workers perceive one other in numerous ways.
This positive impact leads to increased trust, cohesion, and togetherness. All of this leads to improved office collaboration.

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Customer Selection

A nice office pet that gets along with other people is a great approach to attract new consumers and clients. According to several managers and business owners, customers opt to patronize their institution because they may visit the cat or dog while shopping. Some consumers remember the animal's name more than the names of the staff with whom they engage.

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Drawbacks of having pets in the office

Mess

Pets are sometimes untidy and create a mess all around the place. If you don't take steps to maintain your office clean and fresh, everything from the odor to hair to bladder issues can interrupt the way your team works and cause problems.
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Allergies

Itchy eyes, a runny nose, sneezing, and difficulty breathing can all be symptoms of pet dander allergies. These challenges may obstruct your team's ability to function effectively. If you're confident that an office pet is an appropriate fit for your company, but some employees have animal-related allergies, you may need to make alternate arrangements for them.
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Dislikes

Some folks simply dislike animals. Their productivity may decrease if you put a cat, dog, or hamster into their workstation. Before opting to bring an animal into the office, make sure you ask all of your employees how they feel about it.
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Disruptions

Office pets can help your company achieve a better work-life balance, but they can also disrupt the flow that your employees depend on to get things done. Untrained pets can be distracting to team members who are attempting to concentrate on critical work.

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How to create a pet-friendly environment in your office.

01 Examine your lease or employment contract

Unless you own the building, you'll want to double- check that your landlord accepts pets so you don't break your lease and end yourself in legal trouble.

Even the friendliest, the most well-behaved animal can occasionally cause troubles (or harm). With a thorough insurance policy, you can protect your company against costly responsibility.

02 Make a Care Strategy

Create a care plan for your full-time workplace mascot so that everyone knows who is responsible for feeding, walking, and getting the little tyke to the veterinarian.

If you allow your employees to bring their pets to work, make sure you have a set of regulations in place so things don't go out of hand.

03 Amusing office pet suggestions

Having a pet at work is enjoyable, but you can increase engagement even more with a little imagination.
The following are some fun workplace pet ideas:

Ongoing pet-related social media posts
An employee of the Month for Animals
Office pet naming competition Written content by the pet on the blog, emails, or newsletter
Bring your pet to work day is a day when you can bring your pet to work.
Zoom in for a pet show-and-tell.
Feel free to come up with even additional methods to have fun at work with animals!

Conclusion

The benefits and challenges of home offices are here to stay. With every convenience comes a concern. From ditching the daily commute to freedom to work from anywhere, Rubenius suggests being prepared for additional responsibilities too.