Amanda Teixeira
Your employer decides whether you are allowed to take your dog to the office. Here you can find out which arguments can help you to convince your boss to have an office dog and why more and more companies are allowing office dogs.
Being able to take your own dog to the office: that’s what more and more dog owners want. If you want to convince your boss to let you bring your dog to work, you should do some research. There are many advantages that an office dog offers for everyone, including the employer.
Markus Beyer from the Bundesverband Bürohund e.V. told us why many companies deliberately allow dogs in the office and why there could be many more office dogs in the future.
Take-your-dog-to-work day
Office dogs even have their own public holiday. Global Take Your Dog To Work Day is celebrated on the fourth Friday of June every year. The US organization “Pet Sitters International” created this holiday. It is the largest association of professional pet sitters in the world.
The aim of the “Take your dog to work day” is for colleagues and employers to realize that having a dog at work can have a positive effect on everyone and that it can continue to be taken with you in the future.
Despite the public holiday: Do not take your dog to the office on this day without your employer’s permission.
Arguments for an office dog
Being allowed to take your own dog to the office has many advantages, and not only for the dog owner. Rather, with the right conditions, everyone involved can benefit from an office dog.
Benefits for all employees
Studies have long shown that dogs reduce stress – and they do the same in the workplace. When you pet a dog, stress hormones like insulin and cortisol are curbed and the happiness hormone dopamine is produced.
An office dog reduces the risk of permanent stress and thus the risk of burnout. According to the Bundesverband Bürohund e.V., dogs also ensure a better working atmosphere. Stroke and play breaks and walks relax the employees. As a result, after the relaxing break, you can continue working with more concentration.
In summary, an office dog can have the following advantages for all employees:
- Risk of permanent stress is reduced
- Burnout risk is reduced
- better working atmosphere
- more restful breaks result in higher work output
Benefits for the dog
Of course, the dog itself also benefits from being allowed to come into the office. He does not have to stay at home alone, but can spend the whole day with his human. Of course, this can also strengthen the bond between human and dog.
When more companies allow dogs in the office, it also means more working people can have a dog. This could offer shelter dogs in particular a new chance to be adopted.
Benefits for the company
According to the Bundesverband Bürohund e.V., companies also benefit when dogs are taken into the office. According to the BVBH Office Dog Index 2019, over 90 percent of employees experienced an improvement in the working atmosphere and a better personal work-life balance through office dogs.
This also seems to result in employees being more loyal to the company when office dogs are allowed. The willingness to change employers is 41 percent lower if a company allows dogs in the office. This is the result of the BVBH Office Dog Index 2019.
Also important for companies: Those who allow office dogs make themselves a more attractive employer for skilled workers.
Important rules for office dogs
However, the “office dog” concept can only work if everyone involved adheres to the rules. We have briefly summarized when your dog can be taken to the workplace from a legal point of view and which tricks dog and colleagues can use to get along well.
Get permission
Your dog is not allowed to come into the office with you. Your employer decides whether you can take your dog to work. If you do this without permission, a warning may follow. All the important rules for office dogs can be laid down in a contract if the employer agrees.
Important: Your colleagues must also agree to the dog at work. Get approval from your colleagues first to avoid conflict. Also, find out if any of your colleagues have dog allergies.
Clarify liability in the event of damage
In some federal states, so-called dog liability insurance is already mandatory. If you haven’t completed one yet, this can be very useful. If the dog breaks something in the office, you are covered. An insured dog also has a better chance of being accepted by the employer as an office dog.
Needs of the dog
If the dog is to come to the office, it needs accessories there as well. That’s the only way he can feel comfortable there. This necessarily includes:
- water and food bowl
- sleeping place
- toy
Consider whether your dog is really suitable for the hectic everyday life in the office. Very anxious dogs will not find their way in a noisy office with many people. Dogs, with a friendly nature that are easy to get along with, make the best office dogs.
Breaks and working hours
Remember that your dog needs exercise and you need to take a break every now and then. Attention: Unless otherwise agreed, dog walking and play times will be deducted from working hours.
Hygiene in the workplace
Office dogs should always be vaccinated and dewormed. The dog owner is obliged to remove dog hair or other dirt caused by the dog. The cleaning for this does not count as working time.
Other office dogs
The more office dogs are already at your workplace, the more carefully you should consider whether it makes sense to take your own dog with you. Think about it: How compatible is your dog with other dogs? How do the other dogs react to your dog?
Get the dog used to the office
Some dogs take longer than others to adjust to everyday life in the office. It can make sense to take your dog with you every now and then. Only after a few trial runs will your dog accompany you to the office every day.
A familiar sleeping spot from home and food your dog is already used to will help him settle in faster. Your dog should get to know the colleagues one by one and not all at once.
Convince the employer of the office dog
Before you convince your employer how useful dogs are in the office, you should first approach your colleagues. Try to teach them the benefits of having an office dog.
Only then can you present the arguments in favor of an office dog to your boss. In addition, it is sure to be well-received if you have already introduced him to some rules for your office dog.
You can find professional advice from the Bundesverband Bürohund e.V. The association informs employees and employers about the advantages of an office dog and helps to check whether the “office dog” concept can also work in your workplace.