For most of us, our dogs are our world and we want nothing more than for them to always be by our side. Fortunately, more and more businesses are learning the benefits of allowing pets in the workplace. Many employees are already living their dream, and if you want to fulfill yours, we made a list of the best dog-friendly companies to work for.
The Top 15 Dog-Friendly Companies to Work For
We've written several articles that feature different cities across the nation and their list of the best dog-friendly workplaces. And to sum it all up, here are the ones that came close to our hearts:
- Petco (Northern California)
- Million Dollar Baby Co. (Southern California)
- Amazon (Seattle)
- Big Spaceship (New York City)
- Epic Games (Salt Lake City)
- Fish Marketing (Portland)
- Urban Outfitters (Philadelphia)
- Chewy (Miami)
- HEYDUDE Shoes (Las Vegas)
- Nebraska Furniture Mart (Kansas City)
- Bitly (Denver)
- BARK (Columbus)
- Trip Advisor (Boston)
- Work & Woof (Austin)
- Live Nation Entertainment (Atlanta)
- Google (Northern California)
Image Source: Amazon
While we salute all these dog-loving companies, we can't help but celebrate more for the following:
Amazon: Without even doing research, you'll know that this is a company that worships the ground their dogs walk on. This is evident on their website, social media platforms, and everything in between. Imagine having a 10,000-strong dog registry and more than a hundred dog-friendly buildings, there's probably no company more dog-friendly than this.
Fish Marketing: With dogs holding such high positions in the company (check out their About Page), you can be sure that this digital agency reveres their dogs.
Urban Outfitters: Not only do they allow dogs in stores, but they also welcome them to the offices.
Google: Identifying itself as a "dog company," it even has a cafe at its headquarters named Yoshka in honor of its OG top dog Yoshka. The tech giant has a group called "Doogler," the lucky dogs of Google employees.
Image Source: Ben & Jerry’s Instagram
Below are a few dog-friendly workplaces that we didn't feature but still deserve our recognition:
GoDaddy: The company's dog-friendly environment is its way of promoting employees' care and mental health. This firm believes that pets play a significant role in reducing anxiety and stress. They treat them as part of the company, giving them their own badges.
Ben & Jerry's: Having a high 97% employee retention rate, this dog-friendly ice cream company attests this achievement to its "K9-5ers" program. Workers are encouraged to take breaks to take care of their dogs' needs while at the office.
The Advantages of a Dog-Friendly Workplace
Companies and employees benefit from having a dog-friendly workplace. Below are a few:
For Employees
- Better work-life balance: Leaving pets at home can be a struggle for many fur parents. Allowing them to bring pets to work can ease anxiety and guilt.
- Less stress: Research shows that taking your dog to work reduces employee stress. This also makes work more satisfying for them. Even for those who don't bring pets to work but are allowed access to those who do, there is a significant reduction in stress levels.
- Morale and happiness booster: Pets make any place a happy place, including the office. Working while having your pup near you boosts your mood, creates a positive atmosphere, and increases employee satisfaction.
For Companies
- Attracts and helps with employee retention rates: A pet-friendly work policy can help attract talents and retain top workers. The labor market is ultra-competitive, and having better perks and benefits, such as a dog-friendly workplace, matters.
- Positive brand image: A pet-friendly work policy can show your company's commitment to your employees' health and well-being, resulting in a more positive and welcoming brand image.
The Disadvantages of Bringing Pets to Work
However friendly an office is to pets, there are still downsides to it. Here are a few you need to be aware of:
For Employees
- Allergies: Sadly, not everyone can be with a pet. Allergies, and in some instances, phobias, are real, and we can't discount those who have them. For some, these can lead to discomfort in the workplace, health issues, and anxiety.
- Distractions: Not all pets are angels, and you can expect to hear barking and whining. This, plus playful behavior, can become distractions that may disrupt the workflow of some employees' or even the owners' ability to focus and do their work.
- Accidents: Even if your pet is well-trained, accidents and messes can still happen. This will result in unpleasant cleaning or the potential to damage property.
For Companies
- Liabilities: Should a pet cause any injuries or damage in the office, the company could be liable.
- Cleaning and maintenance: Pet messes require additional cleaning and maintenance to keep the office hygienic and odor-free.
Tips and Tricks for Making Your Company Dog-Friendly
If you want your company to reap the many benefits of having a dog-friendly environment, here are a few tips and tricks that can help:
- Plan and prepare: Before implementing a pet-friendly policy in your company, make sure that everyone (or the majority of your employees) agrees with your decision. Conduct a survey or hold discussions to see if they are okay with it or if they have concerns about it.
- Establish clear guidelines: Define the types of pets, their sizes, vaccination requirements, and other expectations.
- Create designated dog zones: Provide the pets with an area specifically for them where they can play, sleep, eat, or take bathroom breaks.
- Ensure everyone's well-being: Maintain your environment clean by implementing cleaning protocols.
- Socialize your pets: Organize meet and greets so the dogs get to know other staff members.
- Encourage responsible pet ownership: Ask pet parents to train their dogs, clean after their pets, and update their vaccinations.
- Create a plan for emergencies: Establish plans in cases of accidents, injuries, or aggressive behavior.
- Organize dog-friendly activities and events: Host playtime, photo sessions, walks, or "bring your dogs to work" days.
- Gather feedback: Get feedback from employees to know their sentiments about the policy and how to adjust it if needed.
Remember to start small and gradually expand the policy based on its success. Maintain a flexible mindset to address challenges or concerns. In addition, always prioritize hygiene and safety for both employees and pets
