Taking your pet to work - a good idea?

Dogs, cats, rats, rabbits, birds, fish: some pets need more personal attention from their human than others, but they all need lots of dedication. How convenient would it be to take your pet with you to work? You spend every day there, so why shouldn’t your pet be allowed to join? This is a relatively new practice in Australia and is much more commonly practiced in Europe, so we have listed some of the pros and cons for you to consider.

Pros:

It’s good for you and your colleagues
A study has found that pets at the office are good for your health: they lower your stress level and increase feelings of well-being. According to the study, those who take their cat or dog to work are doing their colleagues a big favour by generating better communication and cooporation amongst employees. Even your productivity increases thanks to the pet’s presence, so the boss should be happy, too!

Your pets will have company
If you’re at work all day, it’s nice for your pet to be by your side instead of at home by themselves. You can walk them during your lunch break, or give your cat extra cuddles.

Cons:

Not all your colleagues like animals
Unfortunatly, not everyone loves pets, so it’s best to ask your colleagues’ consent before you bring your dog to work or put up a fish tank in the break room ... Be aware that some people might have allergies or hygiene concerns, so respect your colleagues’ opinions and needs.

Not all pets like being at the office
It’s nice to take your pet to work, but it’s also important to consider whether you are really doing your pet a favour in doing so. Will they be at ease and stress-free there? Will they have some space to themselves? Will they be bored? Some pets are very attached to their familiar environment and would much prefer staying there. To make sure your pet gets enough attention at home, you can always consider booking a pet sitter through Pawshake. He or she can visit your dog or cat at home while you are at work and give you peace of mind that way.

We asked on our Facebook page whether our users and followers take their pets to work. Here are some of the replies:

Rosa from Vinomofo says 'Love office pets, this is Keita, our full-time Top Dog at Vinomofo. There are so many proven benefits of having an office dog on stress levels, creativity and staff morale - highly recommended if it's the right dog and environment.'

Carly says 'I stay for some time after my shift just to pat them. This is Mojo.'

But not everyone would like to take their pets to work. Rianne told us: “No way. No one would work any more, I think! :-)

Do you take your pet to work? Why do you/don’t you?