More relaxed atmosphere and an effective low-cost mechanism for the company to increase people’s wellbeing.

A study carried out in Virginia shows that there is a more relaxed atmosphere and the employees feel more serene in companies allowing them to come with their dogs at work. That could be an effective low-cost mechanism for the company to increase people’s wellbeing.

Now Shabaka, my lady-dog 14 years old basenji, likes best to snooze in her basket under my desk, but in her youth she used to come with me to the building sites and meeting at the most enlightened companies I had the pleasure of working with, winning their favour and creating a more informal and relaxed atmosphere. It isn’t just my impression, the effects of the pet-therapy are scientifically recognized (a dedicated website is online Take Your Dog To Work Day® ) and also confirmed by the “Preliminary investigation of employee’s dog presence on stress and organizational perceptions” published on  International Journal of Workplace Health Management carried out by Randolph T. Barker, professor at School of Business at Virginia Commonwealth University, giving a measurement of the positive effect of dogs in a working environment. This paper provides the first quantitative exploratory study of the effects of pet dogs in the workplace setting on employee stress and perceptions of satisfaction, support and commitment. The chief advantages are high reducing of stress, a more relaxed atmosphere, higher job satisfaction and easier team-work. It’s just a matter of defining a few company regulations to prevent any possible inconvenience and maybe to set up a dog-parking area.

Text by Renata Sias