Companies dedicated to the health and well-being of their workers are allowing and encouraging the presence of pets at work.
I was recently invited to speak at a company at the SIPAT event (Internal Accident Prevention Week) and I had this experience and I confess it was SENSATIONAL, for this reason I decided to write about this topic. In fact, I was deeply touched by the literal presence of these angels in my life, I have 2 dogs at home that are the joy of our family and if I could I would certainly take them to work outside, outside the home office.
How does the Pet Friendly Policy work?
The policy of taking the pets to the corporate environment has been gaining adherents, in a quick search on the internet for the term "pet friendly", it was possible to detect more than 15 thousand vacancies around the world, in this search we can mention big names, such as Google, Mars and Amazon have offices that accept pets, as long as certain policies are respected and permissions are obtained, in Brazil there are still few companies that adhere to the culture.
In some examples we can cite the company Google where only small and medium-sized dogs are allowed, while Amazon, which only accepts dogs, they get welcome cookies and have access to water sources their size.
The company Mars, in many units of the company, including the office in Brazil, the culture of pets at work goes beyond, with walking routes, playgrounds, meeting rooms that allow the entry of dogs and areas for activities. Still has the “Petiqueta Policy” at the office and the “Peternidade License”, which allows members to take ten hours of paid leave when buying or getting a new pet. Pets are not only welcome, but they are a fundamental part of the culture in the workplace”, says the manifesto celebrating the tenth anniversary of the office's pet policy.
At the headquarters of Royal Canin, in São Paulo, employees can take their pets, but it is necessary to respect an agenda, as both dogs and cats are allowed there.
What does Science say?
Studies carried out at the
University of Azabu, Japan indicated that dog owners release more oxytocin, especially after interacting with the pets, and a decrease in cortisol levels was also observed.
The research carried out by
Virginia Commonwealth University, on the other hand, carried out a study with 76 employees of an American company. The results were encouraging with an increase in productivity of up to 25% when related to those who did not take their pets, in addition to reports of increased focus and more interaction between teams, in fact the interaction between the team helps in approaching and creating a sense of belonging, as well as making the routine more fun.
It was also reported that the periods of affection between owners and their pets favored affection and rest in their own environment.
The study "Pets at Work" conducted in Europe and released by the Purina brand, there are multiple benefits to having pet friends at work. Among those interviewed, 46% believe that animals help to create a calmer atmosphere, 45% say that working in a pet-friendly environment helps to reduce stress and 41% mention an improvement in the work/life balance.
Several studies also infer that the presence of pets in hospital environments favors the recovery of environments, not to mention the "pet friendly" commercial institutions which, by favoring the presence of pets, have more volume of visits than the others.
Advantages of Pets in Environments
• Increased productivity;
• More interaction between teams;
• Increased focus;
• More engagement;
• Increased cooperation;
The pets also help to take the breaks that are essential for the well-being of employees, the pets also help with short walks, a little fun and temporary distractions allow necessary mental interruptions so as not to overload employees, thus avoiding wear and tear mental and emotional.
The joy, happiness and smiles offered by animals to the work environment are contagious, have a calming effect, reduce blood pressure, reduce exhaustion and make employees more cordial and definitely more productive.
Environmental adaptations
In addition to all the benefits, companies can see pets as a way to attract and retain talent and can generate a perception of harmony between the personal and professional spheres, thus being a recognition of the new workers' life commitments.
The culture of pets at work also contributes to increasing the reputation of companies, promoting the well-being and satisfaction of employees, to get an idea, according to American surveys, 41% of millennial workers would choose a pet-friendly company over another. this benefit is valued more than, for example, health insurance (39%). This generation has concrete expectations about a good work/life balance and considers Pets at Work as the third best benefit granted by companies.
For an effective "pet friendly" policy, it is necessary to adapt the environments and the organizational culture itself.
The professional involved in the project must be aware of environmental adaptations that include:
• Viability study;
• Sanitation;
• Definition of the size of animals X Space available;
• Spaces for easy access and movement;
• Check the opinion of employees of the environment/location;
Another important information is related to the importance of checking the health of the pet that will frequent the environment, such as dewormers and vaccines up to date.
There are several benefits that should be considered and considered in the environment and in fact, in my opinion as an ergonomist and pet lover, this trend is here to stay :)
