Pets at work can be a plus

By: Marie Stempinski

Marie Stempinski is President of Strategic Communication, a full service public relations/marketing/business trends consulting business in St. Petersburg, Florida.  She writes for The St. Petersburg Times and business newspapers and magazines. Marie also provides marketing and business trends consulting for small businesses and corporations.


We Americans love our pets.  In fact, we love them so much that we see them as members of our families.  Perhaps that’s why we can’t seem to part from them even for a few hours a day. In fact, according to a recent survey by the American Pet Products Manufacturing Association, 1 in 5 American companies allow employees to bring their pets to work.  They also say that having pets at work means more productivity, lower stress, less absenteeism and even greater employee willingness to work overtime!

Allowing pets at work isn’t something new.  It’s been commonplace to see dogs, cats, parrots and other animals in small, one or two person businesses for decades.  However, recently the trend has been growing and now many large companies and corporations allow Tabby and Fido in the office.  There’s even a “Take Your Pets to Work Day” every June.

But all is not rosy in petland. Some people aren’t so keen on non-humans in the workplace. There’s a growing backlash and it seems to revolve around workplaces without planning and policies. The biggest negatives are:

• A pet can distract the owner from his or her work

• Employees with allergies or other health issues can be negatively impacted by the pet

• Employees with fears of animals may be uncomfortable

• Poorly supervised pets roam into other people’s work areas can cause trouble

• Bad doggie breath can make for a not so great day at work

• Customers may have negative feelings about encountering your pet at the work site

• Insurance considerations can cause problems.  Will the pet be an insurance hazard?  What are the insurance implications for the business?

The Answer:  Establish “Pettiquette” at your work place.  Paw-Rescue.org suggests many strategies including the following:

• Establish a policy that includes what type of pets your company will allow and when, where, and how they will be welcomed into your workplace.

• The policy must respect coworkers’ space and make sure the pet(s) do not frighten coworkers or are not around coworkers with health or allergy issues that would be compromised by the pet

• Forewarn all employees and make them aware that pets are coming and when

• Ensure that the pets are housebroken, comfortable around strange people, and in strange surroundings

• Allow only healthy pets

• Owners must provide food, treats and water for their pets and take them outside for breaks.  Owners must also clean up after their pets.

• Owners must be responsible for their pet’s behavior.  For example, the best type of dog to bring to work is one that is calm and obeys simple commands like SIT, STAY, and LIE DOWN.

Please contact Ms. Stempinski at mstratcomm@gmail.com with any questions. Make sure you put "Pets At Work" in the subject line so she will know it is not spam