Ever wish your canine companion could hang out all day with you at the office?  A recent study suggests that’s a great idea! This qualitative study was the first of its kind to prove that dogs benefit workplace environments in several ways.  First, dogs seem to impact stress levels.  The insightful findings state, “Although perceived stress was similar at baseline; over the course of the day, stress declined for the DOG group with their dogs present and increased for the NODOG and NOPET groups. The NODOG group had significantly higher stress than the DOG group by the end of the day” (Barker, et al., 2012).

In addition to the overall health impact of high stress, there are significant costs associated with workplace stress, which have been proven to negatively impact performance, attendance, retention, and other employee outcomes.  If companion animals can help reduce stress and contribute to improved morale and productivity, it’s likely this will encourage expanded animal-friendly policies at more companies.  Another study demonstrated that dogs at work may also help co-workers bond, showing that dogs can strengthen “team cohesion” in addition to decreasing stress.

As more research demonstrates the benefits of animals, animals are also showing up in benefit packages!  Benefit plans that offer a competitive edge can attract and retain employees, and groups like the American Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) and Veterinary Pet Insurance (VPI) offer rates for individuals and employers.  About one third of Fortune 500 companies and thousands of smaller employers include “pet insurance” among benefit packages, and many others offer access to purchase such coverage at special group rates. Like other medical plans, pet insurance offers special discount rates on routine wellness vet visits, medications, and injuries.  Also like other medical coverage, plans vary, so illnesses and hereditary diseases may need special coverage plans for the best access to specialists and advanced care.

From including animals in benefit packages to creating policies that welcome animals in the workplace, the growing data explains why animal-friendly policies have become a hot workplace trend.  The phrase “working like a dog,” may conjure images of long hours and exhaustion, but as the bonds between companion animals and humans are studied, clearly the advantages of working with a dog are changing workplaces for the better.