Animal Chronicles
Spring & Summer 2008

It's a Dog's Life at a Pooch-Positive Office

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!

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 daycare. But what’s in it for the company?

According to a survey of 50 companies 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.

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 or UPS loses your shipment, 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 with the idea of a Bring Your Dog to Work (BYDTW) day: This allows everyone to sample the 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.

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.

So—you make progress. Through a well-managed campaign of Bring Your Dog to Work days, you have introduced your pet and others into your workplace. Now more employees are wondering if they can to bring pets to the office: How often? What days? Others are expressing concerns: Sparky’s rambunctious, Madge stole a burrito, Bob in Accounting is allergic. What are the rules and how do you reconcile differing attitudes about dogs in the office?

It’s clearly time for a pet policy. A company’s pet policy should do two things: In an environment where management has decided to welcome pets, support the desire of dog owners to bring their charges to work by defining the rules and expectations that govern this privilege, and the consequences for violating those rules. The policy must also support colleagues, clients and vendors who are uncomfortable with pets in the workplace by ensuring that their concerns are acknowledged and addressed.
As a happy dog guardian, it may be difficult to remember that not everyone likes dogs. Some people are afraid of them, the result of unpleasant encounters, sometimes including having been bitten. Others are allergic, with reactions that range from mild to fairly unpleasant. There are also folks who simply don’t like dogs and don’t want to be around them. Even those who do like dogs may have justifiable concerns that dogs might be disruptive to the workplace. A good pet policy addresses all these issues objectively and neutrally, balancing the privilege of dog visits with the need for some employees to be buffered from those same visits. This sounds complicated, but can be managed by applying common sense, and common courtesy.

A Few Pet Policy Basics

Who’s eligible: Identify the characteristics that qualify an animal (vaccinated, licensed, housetrained, well-mannered, not aggressive) and the ones that don’t. Be sure to include guidelines regarding sick dogs and dogs with fleas. Some companies restrict the size and age of dogs.

Where: Spell out in detail where dogs are welcome and where they are not. These guidelines should actively protect those who aren’t comfortable with dogs as well as those who find them distracting. If necessary, designate pet-free zones.

Management: Include requirements governing toys, food, water, and cover issues such as barking and accident clean-up. Also note how guardians should handle visitors. At my office, dogs stay behind closed doors until they have been introduced to a newcomer—and only if the visitor is willing to meet them.

Potential problems: Here’s where you need to anticipate concerns and make expectations and consequences clear. Particularly in the case of fighting or biting, the pet policy must always ensure the safety of the staff.

Kasey Arnold-Ince is Director of Communications at PAX Scientific in San Rafael.

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