Dogs in the workplace reduce stress

Bonnie inspecting a PlexiDor dog door

An increasing number of employers allow pets in the workplace. The pets can alleviate stress and give a sense of security. Reasons not to allow pets in the workplace can be allergies, an employee with dog phobia, the workplace holding dangers to dogs, or a concern about pets disturbing the work.

Around two percent of dog owners take their pets to work on a regular basis. It doesn't sound like all that much, but it adds up to around a million dogs around the USA.

In 2012, Sandra Barker - professor of psychiatry at Virginia Commonwealth's School of Medicine - made a study at a large manufacturing company. 76 employees were included in the study, and it gave some interesting results.

Employees with no pets had an increasing stress level during the workday at an average of fourteen percent. Employees with pets who left them at home had an increase in stress with 71 percent each day. Pet owners clearly worry about their pets home alone.

Employees who brought their pets to work had a decrease in stress levels with 11 percent. This doesn't mean that stressful things don't happen to persons with a pet, but pets definitely change the way we react to stress.

What do you think? Would you bring your pet to work if you could? Would you be okay with other employees bringing their pets?

~ Maria Sadowski ~