Purina survey uncovers insights into pet-friendly work policies
With back-to-the-office plans becoming more top-of-mind, 73% of consumers express concern about how their pets will react to their sudden absence.
Key findings from the survey:
– When considering a new career opportunity, 72% of pet owners working from home would accept a job offer from a pet-friendly employer over a non-pet friendly employer, assuming salary and all other benefits are equal.
– In the areas of company culture and office morale, 48% of pet owners working from home whose company doesn’t have a pet-friendly office think office morale would improve if their office was pet-friendly.
– Even executive leaders are open to the idea, with 72% of C-suite executives saying the approval of a pet policy would either lead to or already has increased socializing in the workplace, and 56% said it would lead to or has resulted in increased productivity.
“Now is the time to seriously consider the role that pets have had and will continue to have in the lives of employees,” said Nina Leigh Krueger, CEO and President of Purina. “Introducing pets into the workplace creates a cultural shift that brings people together, offers stress relief and fun, and increases productivity. Incorporating a pet-friendly office policy now also will help the pets who have supported us throughout this time adjust to a new reality.”
Purina offers the following recommendations for employees and employers interested in exploring a pet-friendly workplace:
– Learn the Benefits – Do your research to arm yourself with the positive impact pets have on the workplace as well as the benefits to pets that may suffer from separation anxiety.
– Find Examples – Help employees and management by laying out a list of other like-minded companies in your area that have successfully integrated pets in the workplace.
– Test it Out – Suggest a “Bring Your Pet to Work Day” as a test run to see how employees and visiting pets interact.
– Make the Pledge – Gather signatures in favor of the policy using Purina’s Pets at Work pledge template.
– Show you’re serious – Establish guidelines and make it official by using an authorization and release form for those wishing to bring their pets to the office.