As companies evolve, they are looking for more creative ways to increase the productivity in the workplace. Traditional methods of improving productivity often result in increasing stress levels at the workplace, which is why companies are looking for innovative and off the chart methods to improve productivity.
Employees are looking for an environment that makes them feel at home. Having playful pups with their cheery attitudes right besides them gives them an environment that is comfortable and productive. Although the feeling of warmth and affection is what all employees want in their workplace, companies are reluctant to hear a case in favor of dog-friendly offices.
Here are some benefits of having a dog-friendly office that can make employers reconsider their stance:
1. Improved Mental Health
Given the long overtime hours and the demands of clients across each time zone, employees feel an increased pressure to perform well. The sustained pressure and the load of expectations can lead to stress that ends up affecting the performance of an employee.
As it is, American businesses lose a considerable sum due to decrease in productivity because of stress-related issues. According to a study by a university in Missouri, Columbia, simply petting a dog for a few minutes can help the body in releasing positive hormones that reduce stress. The hormones also help us relax, and improve our overall mode.
This means that merely petting the four-legged balls of fur will go a long way in stabilizing stress levels in your body and affecting your performance.
Dogs Boost Morale at the Workplace
Dogs are bundles of energy, and that energy is often contagious. Just think of how your pet greets you when you come back home from work, now imagine that energy in the workplace when you are surrounded by cute dogs everywhere.
The benefits outweigh the initial novelty that comes with the decision of allowing dogs in the workplace. Taking short breaks to pet the dogs and spending some time with them helps in rejuvenating the employees as the dogs transfer their positive energy to them.
Improve Communication
A shared interest or passion for something develops a great bond at the workplace. Poor communication is something that is a great hindrance to achieving productivity in the workplace.
Dog breeds create an instant and shared interest which can lead to deeper conversations and hence improving communication in the workplace.
Healthy lifestyles in the office have been linked to the less stress-related health issues; this can result in less absenteeism at work, and improves overall job-satisfaction. The improvement in the levels of job-satisfaction can lead to employee retention and improves the overall productivity of the workforce.
The careful implementation of a dog-friendly workplace might take time but having your four-legged friends at the workplace is bound to improve productivity.
