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5 Benefits Of Having A Pet-Friendly Office

Happy young woman petting her dog (golden retriever) at her desk
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These days, more and more workers are paying attention to the benefits offered at their potential workplace. Employees are looking at things like flex time, paid paternity leave, and unlimited paid time off when considering where to work.

Another benefit people are looking for? A pet-friendly office!


According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, pet ownership is on the rise in the United States. That means more people in the workforce are having to balance pet ownership with their work life. To help balance this out, more workers are looking to take their pets to work.

There are arguments to be made against having pets in the office. However, there are a lot of benefits as well.

If you're debating whether or not to make your office pet friendly, or work for a pet-friendly office, take the time to consider these five benefits...

It's Good For Employee Engagement

Happy young woman sitting at her desk holding her small dog

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According to a study from Nationwide and the Human Animal Bond Research Institute, a whopping 90% of employees in pet-friendly workplaces feel highly connected to their company's mission, fully engaged with their work, and are willing to recommend their employer to others.

To put that in perspective, less than 65% of employees at non-pet-friendly workplaces feel the same way, according to the study.

So not only would you have adorable animals roaming around your office, you'd have more engaged employees too!

It Builds Employee Loyalty

Business man working on his laptop at work while his dog sits patiently on his desk

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This study also revealed that 88% of employees who work for a pet-friendly company plan to stay in their roles within the company for the next year, compared to 73% of people who work at non-pet-friendly places.

On top of that, 72% of people who work for a pet-friendly company would turn down a job offer with another business for similar pay. In contrast, only 44% of people who work in non-pet-friendly workplaces say the same.

It Can Be Used To Attract Talent

Young woman working at her desk while her dog patiently looks at her computer

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According to the study, 88% of employees working for a pet-friendly company would recommend their company to others, whereas only 51% of those who work in non-pet-friendly workplaces would do the same.

The better reputation you get as an employer, the better! A pet-friendly policy would definitely grab the attention of talent.

It Makes Employees Feel Supported

Happy man working on his laptop while his dog sits patiently on his lap

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This study also revealed that 91% of employees who work for a pet-friendly company feel the company supports their physical health and wellness, compared to 59% who work in non-pet-friendly workplaces.

This makes sense. If you cater to your employees' requests (like allowing their pets in the office), they'll feel valued.

Employees Are More Likely To Show Up To Work

Happy young man working on his laptop at work while he pets his cat on his lap

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A final (but interesting!) finding from this study: 85% of people who work for a pet-friendly company said they rarely miss a day of work for well-being or recuperation, compared to 77% who work in non-pet-friendly workplaces.

When deciding whether or not to make your office pet friendly (or work for a pet-friendly office), you must consider both the benefits and drawbacks. However, if you're looking to make your office stand out, having this benefit will definitely give you leverage.

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This article was originally published at an earlier date.


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