Discover essential tips for creating a safe and enjoyable pet-friendly workplace
Creating a pet-friendly workplace takes a lot of prepwork and continued vigilance once the program is off the ground. Getting all of your ducks in a row and knowing what’s important and how to go about planning for it will help make the process go more smoothly. This guide covers everything office managers need to keep in mind when approaching the design of a pet-friendly office.
One of the first things you’ll want to do is develop a pet policy. This will set boundaries for employees and help them best understand what is and isn’t allowed—from the breed of their pet to the pet’s health status and behavior. Make sure the pet policy covers things like:
One thing to consider is if the office space is equipped to handle an influx of pets. Most offices are designed for people, not animals, so space is a huge consideration here. Is the office cramped or tight on space already? If so, adding pets to the mix may be difficult. Similarly, if the office is on a very high floor, it may be harder for pet parents to avoid accidents due to outside potty spaces not being as accessible.
If you have the space but want to make it better for pets and their owners, then we have a few tips. One is to have dedicated potty areas on premises. Not only will this reduce the likelihood of accidents, but it goes a long way in showing your support for your employees. On top of that, a play area/dog park—either within the office or outside—would be a great amenity as well.
In the case of those employees who don’t want to be around people’s pets, we recommend having working areas for people with pets and working areas for people without pets. This will keep things amicable and friendly.
Let’s talk about liability. There are a few things to keep in mind when it comes to pets and one of them is the legal liability a pet owner and a property owner may have in the case of an incident involving a pet on premises. Most commercial buildings will already have insurance that is required to operate a business from the location, but additional insurance—or added policies to current plans—can be helpful. It’s important to speak to your specific insurance provider about any liabilities that the company and building owner may have in the case of damaged property or an injury caused by a pet.
But liability predominantly lies with the pet owner. In your pet policy, you can require that pet owners have insurance that covers their pet. On top of that, you may want to have employees sign a waiver that protects your company against any legal ramifications.
Dogs are excitable, energetic creatures that need attention and activity. That’s not always conducive to a productive office culture. That’s why having dedicated doggie play times or breaks can be helpful. It allows pets to interact with one another in a supervised manner that’s long enough to give them a break without disrupting the workday.
Specific pet-friendly areas in the office are also a must. Again, this can go in your pet policy to have everyone on the same page, but restrooms, the kitchen, and big conference rooms can be off-limits to pets. In its place you can have pet areas that are meant for our furry friends like a small dog park or fenced area inside the office.
Catering to pets and their owners can be a huge plus in maintaining a good rate of employee retention and attracting new talent. Companies like Chewy know that pets can boost moods and lower stress levels on top of increasing social interactions with coworkers. So long as pet-parents follow the guidelines you create, it can make for a really welcoming office environment.
While we love the idea of a pet-friendly office (our team brings their pets to work) we know it's a very personal choice and dependent on each company and their circumstances. To make the right choice for you and your employees, you’ll want to consider both the positives and negatives of a pet-friendly office experience.
🚨Regardless of whether household pets are allowed or not, service animals are legally allowed to accompany their owner wherever they go.
Pets are animals and as such can be unpredictable. Even with the best training, pets can’t do things or act out in ways we didn’t expect. No matter how well you plan things out, you may be confronted with situations you have to address promptly. Don’t stress and don’t panic. This stuff happens sometimes and it’s best to remain calm and focused on addressing and solving the issue at hand. That is, after all, why you prepared. As part of that preparation, we recommend having a go-to list of emergency vets, local animal hospitals, animal control, poison control, as well as contacts for healthcare for people should it be necessary.
