No-one can come between man and his best friend, not even the office. After almost two years of working from home, with many people still working from home part time, dog owners have become accustomed to having their furry companions around 24/7.
So, why not bring your pets to work? Not only do they provide a lovely presence in the office who no-one has any pre-existing tension with, they have also proven to reduce office stress and improve overall morale. If you’re considering opening the doors to every man and his dog, read on to find out how this can improve office life.
Reduce stress
It’s not hard to see why dogs make people happier. Be it their infectious energy, their unadulterated lust for life or endless enthusiasm for play and human company, everyone feels a burst of joy whenever a dog walks into a room.
Scientific research has proved that petting a dog for just ten minutes can reduce stress. This is because our bodies release oxytocin in response, which is a stress-reducing hormone. By allowing owners to bring their dogs in, they are also not going to be distracted by separation anxiety. By keeping an eye on their pet throughout the day, they are more productive and focussed.
Taking the dog for a walk over lunchtime also encourages employees to get some fresh air. Get the team involved, make sure the dog is wrapped up warm in comfortable winter coat and blow those cobwebs away in time for the afternoon.
Increase teamwork and morale
Dogs have a great way of lightening the mood. If you are experiencing teamwork tensions or conflicts, dogs can often work as an icebreaker and encourage more interaction and effective communication between teammates.
Encourage people to take regular breaks
Whether you need to entertain them, feed them or take them outside for a toilet break, having a dog in the office will encourage employees to take regular breaks. Whilst some might see this as a distraction, regular breaks actually help keep workers refreshed and engaged.
Increase productivity
In turn, having an office dog means increased productivity. Studies show that spending too long on one task without taking a break can be counterproductive and lead to tiredness and frustration. By making people step back from their work at regular intervals to tend to the dog, employees are less likely to become overwhelmed and stressed and fuel up on happy hormones frequently.
Carol
Information sourced by the author for luxuryactivist.com. All content is copyrighted with no reproduction rights available. Images are for illustration purposes only.
