Meet Penny… our latest recruit!
Well, not quite, Kevin’s brought her in to the office just for the day.
But we've all loved having Penny here. She's settled in well, has been very well behaved and brought (even more) fun to the office.
It got me thinking of all the benefits of having a four-legged friend in the office can bring…
- It can help reduce employee stress
Studies show dogs can help lower stress levels and improve employee job satisfaction. Having a pet around the office creates a comfortable work environment that helps to counterbalance any on-the-job tension.
- Dogs boost office morale
When a dog greets you excitedly it creates an instant mood booster and it can do wonders for office morale. Dealing with the pressure of a tight deadline? Take a deep breath, pat a dog, smile, and hop to it!
- Dog-friendly workplaces promote productivity
Whilst it may be thought that a cute dog in the office may be cause for distraction (okay, so we have been a bit distracted by Penny today!), the benefits far outweigh the initial novelty. A short break to give the for legged friend a pat can help rejuvenate employees so they can return to their work with more gusto, making them more productive.
- A pet in the office get everyone talking (to each other)
Poor communication in the workplace can be a huge hindrance to productivity, particularly in offices where people tend to stick to themselves (luckily not the case at KJS!) but office dogs can encourage team building. Pets create an instant shared interest and can get colleagues chatting, which is great for improving communication.
- Dogs encourage a healthier lifestyle in the office
Dogs need to be taken outside regularly to do their business and to get exercise so colleagues can take it in turns to stretch their legs. Saying that, only Kevin seems to have been walking duty today!
- Dog-friendly offices improve employee retention
Healthy lifestyles in office have been linked to less stress-related health issues, and as a result, less absenteeism. Dog-friendly workplaces elevate job satisfaction, which then vastly improves employee retention.
- Dog-friendly workplaces appear more attractive to prospective employees
From a recruitment point of view, having happy employees is one of the best ways to encourage top industry talent to work for your company. Plus, the promise of office dogs? That’s one heck of an incentive in our eyes!
- Finally, think what a sociable day out is for Penny and other dogs
A day in the office a great opportunity for a dog to get a lot of attention – something most dogs love! Plus, it gets them used to being with groups of people.
All in all, we’ve loved having Penny come to visit us today, and we hope to see here again soon!
After just one day here, Penny decided to make herself useful and deliver our post around the office! Watch the video...