While the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting lockdowns in 2020 forced employees to work from home, pets seemed to have their best times. Instead of being stuck to their designated places inside the house, they got to rest on the owners’ laps or tables, got frequent walks, and bonded with their owners/best friends. Working from home allowed owners and pets to spend quality time with each other.
Now, as more companies reopen, people are hesitant to leave their pets behind at home. According to a LiveCareer studyOpens a new window , a pet-friendly environment would convince 49% of the respondents to accept a job offer. Barkbus recently conducted a study to understand pet policies in organizations, what employees think about returning to work without their pets, how employers can attract pet lovers back to work, and more.
The following are the findings from the study.
See more: Return to the Workplace During COVID-19: 3 Lessons for Reopening Success
Many People Want Dogs To Be Allowed in the Workspace
According to the study, searches for “dog friendly spaces near me†were up by 267% in July this year. So, what are some of the pet-friendly benefits employees looking for? And how can organizations make working without pets more tolerable?
About 70% of employees wanted dogs to be allowed in the physical workspace. Of that, 36% wanted dogs to be permitted at any time, while 34% wanted them to be allowed on certain weekdays. Compared to women, men were more likely to want their dogs to accompany them every day to work. About 64% of respondents also wanted either an outdoor space or an indoor gated area for pets. About 31% wanted pet insurance to be included in their benefits package. A few wanted a stipend related to pets, while a few wanted a few days off to care for a sick pet.
Employees’ most desired pet-friendly perks
Source: 2022 Barkbus SurveyOpens a new window
Pet-friendly Policies Positively Impact Employee Engagement
While employers may be concerned about the impact of bringing pets to workplaces, the study found that pet-friendly workplaces positively impacted employee satisfaction. About 86% of pet parents also said they would look forward to working more if they could get their dog to work every day. Further, according to Jeff SafenowitzOpens a new window , CEO, Barkbus, “With 62% of workers finding that their workplace satisfaction has significantly increased due to having pets at work and over half experiencing a decrease in their stress, our findings shed a light on promising practices to increase employee retention and improve hiring.â€
In addition, 58% of respondents reported better mental health, and 57% reported increased productivity. About 56% of respondents reported less company turnover, and 52% cited lower stress levels. About 50% of employees also made new friends at work because they brought their pets to work.
According to Safenowitz:
The findings suggest that pet-friendly policies are one of the most effective means to incentivize employee retention.
Employers Are Taking Note
The demand for pet-friendly offices has compelled several companies to take a few positive steps in this direction. For example, the search for pet policy templates went up 400% last year. About 71% of employees also said that their employers made changes to their pet policies within the last 12 months. Small companies were 55% more likely than bigger companies to have changed their pet policies in the last year. At the same time, bigger profitable companies may have already been ahead of the curve in implementing pet-friendly policies.
Pet Parents Are Making Pets More Comfortable
As more employees bring their pets to the physical workspace, they are taking precautions to make pets feel safe. For example, 67% applied a dog seat belt when bringing them to work, while 65% used a dog carrier. About 63% also had a dog car seat. When keeping dogs at the workplace, 48% kept dog treats, 45% kept pet pillows, and 41% kept waste bags. About 39% also kept cleanup materials.
Employers Can Take Steps To Make the Organization Pet-friendly
While there seem to be several benefits of bringing pets to the workplace, all employers may not be convinced. Many organizations may still believe getting pets to work reduces employee productivity. According to the study, only 15% of employers allowed their employees to bring their pets to work last year. Only 18% of employers said they would allow employees to bring their dogs to work every day. Further, 98% of respondents did not change their pet policies. That said, they can still satisfy pet parents and improve retention by offering certain perks.
For example, 40% of employers were willing to include pet insurance as part of the benefits package. About 35% were ready to provide a pet bereavement leave, while 32% were willing to offer an outdoor gated area for pets. A few employers were willing to provide a stipend for a daycare or a dog walking service.
Pet-friendly perks companies are willing to offer
Source: 2022 Barkbus SurveyOpens a new window
Bigger companies with more money for perks like employee benefits and paid time off (PTO) were more likely to offer work flexibility for pet parents. They were also more likely to provide pet insurance (48%). That said, they were also the least likely to provide stipends for dog walking services.
See more: Return to Office Gains Momentum, But Hybrid Work is Here to Stay
A Bow (Wow) for Employee Retention
The last two years have seen the relationship between employees and their pets change; most of them have grown closer to each other. While many pet parents may want to continue this relationship as they return to work, all employers are not thrilled about it.
That said, we live in testing times, especially for businesses, as employees continue to look for companies that are supportive of them and will leave if they are unsatisfied with their current organizations. According to a recent PwC studyOpens a new window , the Great Resignation is set to continue in 2022, with 20% of employees planning to switch jobs. Hence, employers should consider making changes to their pet policies by understanding the benefits of a pet-friendly policy in terms of employee engagement, improvement in mental health, productivity, and retention.
What do you think are some ways employers can retain their pet-loving employees? Let us know on FacebookOpens a new window , TwitterOpens a new window , and LinkedInOpens a new window .
MORE ON EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT AND RETENTION
Job Stability and Meaningful Work Are Top Reasons People Stay With a Company
61% Senior Leaders Spend One-third of Their Day Solving Employee Churn Problem
3 Ways Workplace Benefits Can Help Employees Through Today’s Inflation