Back to In the News

In the News: Tails of Marin

Woof! at Work

By Kasey Arnold-Ince

Monday mornings at my house are always a hustle: shower, dress, bundle up the laptop, pack a lunch, and grab my purse. Oh, and don’t forget the dog. Come on, Ava, time to go to work!

 In addition to familiar perks like flex time and telecommuting, many companies are welcoming pets into the workplace, either on an occasional or regular basis. The benefits for the canines are obvious: as pack animals, dogs prefer to be with their guardians. Going into the office means recapturing eight or more hours of “together time” that might otherwise be spent sleeping under the coffee table, waiting for the “lead dog” to return. Likewise, pet guardians are free from concerns about poor Sparky, languishing at home—and free from the expense of walkers or doggie day-care. But what’s in it for the company?

According to a survey of 50 firms by the American Pet Products Manufacturers Association, dogs in the workplace can contribute to greater employee morale, camaraderie, and reduced absenteeism, as well as enhanced productivity and even increased sales. Another survey, cited on the CBS Evening News, said that 46 million Americans would work longer hours if they were allowed to bring pets to work with them. An employee at one company observed, “If [my dogs] are in the office with me, I'm not in a hurry to go home and take them on a walk."

And then there’s stress reduction. Employees at dog-friendly environments frequently laud the cheering effect of having a furry friend in the cubicle. On those days when the company server crashes, UPS loses your order, and you get cornered by an irate customer, a sympathetic nuzzle from your dog can serve as a reminder that this, too, will pass.

Some estimates suggest that as many as 20 percent of American businesses welcome pets. While many firms with a pooch positive policy are on the smaller side, like the engineering start-up I work for in San Rafael, larger companies like Google and Autodesk may find that offering a dogs-at-work option gives them a hiring and retention advantage over their competitors.    

So how can you convince your company to welcome Sparky and turn your office into a dog-friendly workplace? Here are a few suggestions:

Start small
Start with the idea of a Bring Your Dog to Work day. This allows everyone to sample this new concept. Do the groundwork to ensure this experiment is a success: limit the invitation to well-behaved, socialized adult dogs that understand basic commands like Sit and Down. Puppies are delightful but they can be fairly unpredictable. 

Think like your boss
Now that you’ve got a BYDTW day lined up, consider your company’s concerns first. They’re worried about hygiene (potty accidents, fleas, fur), disruption (barking, food theft, chaos), and litigation (biting and aggression). Make sure to address these issues and prevent problems before Sparky shows up in your cubicle.

Be the lead dog
Whether she’s there for the day or becomes a regular fixture under your desk, your dog needs to learn appropriate behavior in the office—and she can only learn that from you. Keep your dog under your control, don’t tolerate barking or aggressive behavior, and don’t let your dog annoy or distract other employees. 

Location, location, location
In some parts of the office, staff may map out a shared territory for canine visitors; in others, you may need to keep your dog in your cubicle at all times. And there are the people who are allergic to dogs. Know where your dog is—and is not—welcome throughout the building.

Make it a policy
If, after one or more successful BYDTW days, the company seems poised to take a more open stance toward dogs in the office, offer to help draft a regular pet policy. Guidelines protect both the company and the dog guardian, by making expectations and consequences clear.

Remember: having dogs at work is a privilege—and a responsibility. Make it your job to ensure that your company experiences your dog as a pleasure, not a liability. 

Additional reporting for this article was provided Kasey’s co-workers: Ava, Lily, Quinn, Stella and Petunia.

Kasey Arnold-Ince is the Director of Communications at PAX Scientific in San Rafael and a volunteer for the Marin Humane Society.

Tails of Marin appears every Saturday in the Home & Garden section of the Marin Independent Journal