A dog-friendly office is becoming more popular and requested by workers in the post-pandemic era of workplace dynamics. Pets are a prized addition to remote work. Though they haven’t been traditionally welcome in the office, dogs are receiving some leeway these days because of the impact employers have seen it have on morale, productivity, and employee sentiment. It’s an excellent show of trust and appreciation for employees.
Here is how to create a dog-friendly office.
Work in a Dog-Friendly Building
Ensure your landlord allows dogs on the premises. Many places of business do not allow pets indoors, making having a dog-friendly office challenging. If there are specific parameters or an agreement you need to sign, this is the first step.
Outline the Policy in Detail
Spend time putting together a detailed document on expectations for a dog-friendly office. Set expectations at the outset. This should be a formal pet policy referencing company culture, carefully outlining what’s allowed and not allowed.
Make Sure Workers Approve
You may have some employees who are allergic to dog hair, afraid of dogs, and do not want to interact with them. Consult with any employee on your floor to ensure they are comfortable with having dogs around the office. Make accommodations for those who may have issues with dogs in the workplace.
Allow Dogs on Specific Days
If you have concerns about the experience, consider allowing dogs in the office only on specific days. Dogs do make work more fun, and studies show they improve productivity.
Provide Easy Access to Water and Food
While some dogs may have dietary restrictions, try to ensure every dog in the office has access to clean water and dog food. Keep your pups hydrated! Freeze dried dog food is recommended over treats, as it is undoubtedly more nutritionally balanced and provides better health.
Set Up an Application Process
Consider having employees apply to bring their pets to work. As a basis, consider any employee who has been with your company for at least 30 days. Collect a record of the dog’s vaccinations and ensure they are on flea medication before entry.
Get a Head Count Beforehand
A limitless free-for-all for dogs will only end in inconvenience. Request that employees confirm beforehand if they are bringing a dog to work. This way, you will know how many to expect.
Designate a Pet Area
Create an area in your office for pets. Set aside space for dog toys, water, and food. If you have much space around your office, you may consider a fenced-in off-leash park.
Dog Gates Are Your Best Tool
Don’t have a natural space for dogs to be contained in? Use dog gates to create small play spaces inside or in your chosen room. Make your own pens or use baby gates to section off doorways.
Leash or Off-Leash: Your Pick
In a dog-friendly office, humans should maintain control of the space by keeping dogs on a leash. Dogs should rarely be off-leash, if at all. Though it may be all right in a designated play zone, a leash will minimize accidents and unexpected encounters in an office.
Pet-Proof Your Office
Ensure cables and wires are tucked away. Any toxic plants should be removed. Anything hazardous to dogs should not be left out for them to tamper with or ingest potentially.
Advise Guests of Your Policy
Ensure no one is caught off guard by an office with dogs present. Advise any client, guest, or visitor that you are a dog-friendly office and that they should not be surprised if they see dogs in the workplace.
Encourage Pet Participation
Encourage workers to bring their dogs. Reinforce the benefits of a dog-friendly office and invite employees to bring in their dogs on a specific day, such as a holiday celebration.
Encourage Sharing
Let employees share photos and videos of their dogs in team chat or on similar platforms online. This will bond team members and create a conversation around the policy.
Set Up Periodic Breaks
It’s imperative to set up your office schedule so that it’s conducive to working with pets in the room. This means scheduling periodic breaks so that dogs and their owners can go out for some exercise without overdoing it.
Keep Lots of Puppy Poo-Bags
Accidents happen. It’s a nice touch to have puppy poop bags at the ready to use if a mess comes about. If not, you have them to use outdoors when workers forget to bring their own.
Consider Pet-Friendly Benefits
Consider offering pet-friendly benefits as part of an employee’s benefits package. This is often something as simple as discounted pet health insurance. It’s another way to attract and keep talent.