Dublin employers are being asked to consider signing up to the DSPCA's Pets at Work Scheme (PAWS) and extend a welcome to all "canine colleagues".
The Corporate Relations Manager for the Dublin Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals said the scheme is about helping employers transition into a pet friendly workplace.
Suzanne McGovern said the DSPCA provides a six-step guide on how to introduce pets into the workplace in a gradual way.
She said: "There's lots of research there to tell us that it does actually increase employee morale, socialisation, engagement and productivity."
Part of the programme is that there is a pet-free zone within the workplace to respect those employees who do not want to be with the dogs or cats that may be present.
The main requirements for the scheme are that your pet is toilet trained and reasonably well socialised with people and other dogs and staff sign a waiver that they promise to clean up any mess made by their pet.
Research insights from Purina’s Pets At Work Alliance (PAWS) has found that 7 out of 10 dog owning employees would be interested in taking their dog to work and that over 46% of office workers would consider changing jobs to a pet-friendly organisation.
The alliance, which was founded in 2003 to encourage more businesses to become dog-friendly has found that 45% of employees feel pets at work creates a more relaxed atmosphere while another 48% feel it can reduce stress.
In Ireland, pet ownership rates rose during Covid-19 as workers were able to balance the demands of working from home and caring for a new addition to their household.
Recent research conducted by the DSPCA found that 60% of people surveyed did not consider the levels of anxiety their pet would experience at a sudden change in the daily routine.
Ms McGovern told Dublin Live: "Our Pets have become an integral part of our daily lives so as responsible pet owners, you must have a plan in place for them upon your return to the workplace.
"A change in routine can manifest in stress and anxiety for your pet. Allowing people to bring dogs to the office doesn’t have to be complicated.
"Solutions are at hand, for both employees and employers through the pets at work alliance with a whole host of resources available from Purina and DSPCA to help organisations get 'ready, set and pet' friendly with the Pets At Work toolkit providing a six step guide on how to introduce pets to the workplace, in a gradual and phased manner."
According to Suzanne, the bringing pets to work has been shown to facilitate greater interaction among colleagues and increase morale among teams.
She added: "There are also many positives for employers with pets at work helping to create a friendly atmosphere, building rapport and engagement as well as proving a positive for attracting new talent."
Joanne McKenna, Country Category Manager Ireland, Nestlé Purina PetCare said: "Pet owners have talked about the many benefits of spending more time with their pets over the last 18 months and we would encourage as many employers as possible to try to bring these benefits back into the workplace.
"Having our canine friends with us in work helps create a more relaxed environment, boosts employee wellbeing and increases performance and productivity.
"We have excellent guidance and have experts on hand to help as many workplaces remain dog friendly or transition to a new and exciting phase of welcoming pets into the workplace.
"It’s a fantastic initiative and one all employers, where possible, should consider."
To find out more about Purina’s Pets At Work and how to get involved, companies or employees can click here
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