The Pros and Cons of Allowing Pets at Work

The Pros and Cons of Allowing Pets at Work

Companies today are becoming increasingly more creative with their benefits and perks. It’s a constant battle to recruit and retain top talent, and money alone won’t do the trick.

One fun perk appearing more often is allowing employees to bring their pets to work. For example, CyberCoders has First Fridays, where employees are encouraged to bring their dogs to the office. And they aren’t alone. Major players like Google and Amazon also have pet-friendly policies.

But is this a good idea? Does it improve employee morale or is it a liability nightmare? Here are several pros and cons of having a pet-friendly policy at work.

Pet Policy Positives

Let’s start with the positives. Here are three reasons why allowing pets at work is a great idea.

1.       Decreasing Stress

Studies show pet-friendly environments help decrease stress and make employees feel more relaxed. Science has shown over and over that pets have a positive impact on mental health. There are fewer places where this is more helpful than at work. The workplace can be stressful with deadlines and lofty quotas. A pet at your side can help ensure you’re working in a healthy state of mind.

2.       Financial Gains

You may not have considered the financial incentives of having a pet at work, but there are many. Unless you have a friendly neighbor or an at-home family member, hiring dog sitters and dog walkers isn’t cheap. Neither is making a trip back home over lunch to ensure pets are hydrated and well fed. Allowing employees to bring their pets to work helps minimize pet-related expenses.

3.       Recruiting and Retaining

Almost 70 percent of U.S. households own a pet, suggesting most Americans are animal lovers. Allowing pets at work creates an attractive incentive when looking to recruit talent. Not to mention, it could be an incentive that keeps people from leaving. Employees may rethink their transition to a new employer if they can’t bring Sparky along with them.

Pet Policy Cons

Every virtue has its vice, and a pet-friendly work environment is no different. Here are three negatives you should consider.

1.       Allergies and Phobias

As much as commercials suggest otherwise, there is no cure for pet allergies. Even the best medicine would be hard-pressed to fight the harshest symptoms. An estimated 10 percent of people are allergic to household pets. For many workplaces, that could be a significant number in the workforce.

2.       Distracting and Harming

Aside from allergies, animals can also be very distracting. All the barking and animal noises can make it hard to focus. And some would rather spend time with their furry friends then at their computer. Not to mention, messes on the floor and damage to equipment are an ever-present concern. So too are risks of bites, scratches, and other injuries. If you’re going to have an effective pet policy, you’ll need to find a way to address these issues.

3.       Feeling Left Out

Not everyone can bring their pets to work. Many pet-policies favor cats and dogs and exclude birds, reptiles, or anything else. It’s not fair if only a percentage of your workforce can enjoy a company-wide perk. If you can’t find a way to reasonably accommodate all pets, you may need to reconsider the overall policy.