A major trend that we have noticed amongst offices post-COVID, is the rise in the number of businesses that are implementing a dog-friendly office policy. There was an increase in the number of dog owners over lockdown, and since businesses are trying to encourage employees back into offices, many of them are adopting a dog-friendly office policy.
It is not possible to enable pets in all commercial units, but the presence of dogs can actually have a very positive impact on the mental health of everyone in an office – and not just their owners! Anecdotal evidence taken from reports from businesses that already allow dogs and other pets in the office shows that there were improvements in employee satisfaction, motivation, performance, and work ethic.
It is important to distinguish between pet dogs and assistance dogs. Assistance dogs are the dogs that are used often by people who have impaired sight or are living with conditions such as epilepsy who can be aided by dogs. These dogs are specially trained to be working and would generally sit quietly, out of the way – unless they are needed, of course. They should not be distracted with petting or playing. Whilst some adaptions may need to be made to the commercial unit, these are generally limited in number – and disruption.
If you are thinking about enabling – or even encouraging – pet dogs into your office, there are a number of factors that you need to consider.
Consulting with Everyone
It is essential that you remember that everyone who is working in the commercial unit is important. This means that if you are considering having dogs in the office, everybody who is in the space must be comfortable with it. Some people have allergies to dogs, for example, or others might have phobias or be weary, so it is important that everybody agrees to have the animal there before you go any further. Of course, as new people join, you should advise them that you have a dog-friendly office and they can make their own decision about whether they want to join (or not).
Another important consultation is with the commercial unit landlord – if you have one. It might be written into your contract, for example, that no animals are allowed on the premises, and, of course, these regulations must be adhered to.
Space
An important consideration if you are thinking about having dogs in the office, is to ensure that you have adequate space for them. Some aspects that need to be thought about include:
- Space under or around the owner’s desk for somewhere for the dog to settle and a water/feeding bowl
- Ensuring this is not going to be a trip hazard for colleagues or get in the way
- Also, ensure that this space is not in an overly busy or distracting area (preferably in a corner or close to a wall)
- Being aware of hazards, such as cables that can be chewed, toxic plants, bins that can be upset, medication, colleagues’ bags (and the treats that might be inside them)
- If there is going to be more than one dog in the office, you should consider how you are going to keep them separate – do they need to be kept separate, can you close doors or use baby gates?
Another very important consideration you need to make is about the number of dogs that you will allow in at any one time and their behaviour. Some dogs get on with other dogs easier than others. It is vital that dog owners ensure that their dogs are well-behaved whilst they are in the office, and a rota system might need to be implemented if you have more than one dog coming into the office (especially one that doesn’t get on so well with other dogs).
Rules
Laying down rules and making sure that everyone is aware of them and sticks to them is really important if you want the policy to continue with no problems. This not only helps owners know what is and is not acceptable in terms of the dog’s behaviour, but also helps other colleagues know what to expect.
Some examples of the rules that have been set out by other businesses include:
- Ensuring that the dog is always on a lead
- Ensuring that the dog is toilet-trained
- Ensuring that the dog is not aggressive
- Ensuring that the dog is not disruptive, or barks a lot
- Ensuring that the dog does not go into the kitchen
- Ensuring that the dog can follow commands
- Ensuring that the dog is clean
- Making sure that the dog is up to date with its vaccinations
Dog Wellbeing
In addition to the well-being of the employees in the office, it is also essential to consider the well-being of dogs. Although they will be used to the relatively small spaces of a house, an office or commercial unit is a different prospect altogether.
Try to ensure that there is a calm space, where the dog can sleep comfortably, and of course, ensure that they are kept fed and watered. You (and especially owners) should also bear in mind that not all dogs are made to be in offices. There might be dogs that just do not get on in an office.
In addition to having calm spaces, you could also think about having a place where they can play, let off some steam, or take a run outside.
Final Thoughts
Having dogs and other pets in an office can be beneficial to everyone working there (and usually, therefore, beneficial to the company). However, it can only work if everyone, and the dog, is happy with the arrangement. And, of course, when it comes to your commercial unit, you must make sure that have permission from your landlord if you are renting the property.
If you are looking to list your commercial unit for rent or sale – or if you want to find somewhere to house your business, take a look at what we can offer you here at Boxpod!