How to make your Office Pet Friendly?

Did you know that pets in the workplace can have a positive impact on the overall morale and work productivity of employees? Yes, it has been proven by a survey that companies that welcome pets in their office have less stressed employees and less absenteeism from work. It brings the best out of them as they can put in extra time without worrying about getting home quicker to feed and walk their four-legged friends.

Not only that pets can also work as a catalyst in breaking the ice between employees of two different departments who have had no conversation amongst each other earlier.

Pets also bring humor and fun to the work environment which keeps the atmosphere in the office light. It is very easy to create a pet-friendly office by following the tips given below:

Have prior documentation from the employee about their pets before they bring them

Since you are working in a company it is very important to tell your superiors that you are going to bring a pet to the office. You do not want other employees to be shocked when you bring your pet to the office. Hence, it is very important to ask the employees with pets to fill in forms about their pets, the kind of pet they are bringing, the breed, gender and age of the pet, whether the pet has any disobedience issue, etc. An employee should also sign a liability waiver to ensure that they would be liable for any damage caused by the pet in the office. Once the information has been approved, you can get the pet ID card or certificate that depicts the approval from the company.

Pet owners need to take care of their pets in the office

It is the responsibility of the pet owners to see that their pets are being watched all the time while they are in office. A great way of doing that is by having the pets in their cubicle or having a co-worker supervise them. Whenever you take your pet for a walk ensure that they are properly leashed. Pets also need bathroom breaks hence, pet owners need to ensure that they get proper bathroom breaks and the necessary clean-up after the act. If the clean-up act is not done properly, it can create lots of issues amongst landlords and other building occupants. The company should also give flexibility to the employees to take their pets outside for a swift walk right through the day.

Pets need to behave properly in the office environment

Pets can only be allowed to stay in the office premises if they act properly and do not disturb the business operations of the office or disturb other employees. On top of it, pet owners need to ensure that their pet is socially friendly with other employees and does not show any aggressive nature towards them. Pets should not be allowed to chew or damage office property. There needs to be a safe area where pet owners can comfortably place their pets. Pet owners should also be allowed to bring in the pet’s favourite blanket, toys, bed, water, and food dishes to make the pet comfortable and safe in the office environment. Pet owners need to groom their pets prior to coming into the office to keep the office clean and to lessen shedding.

Consider the concerns of employees who are allergic or uncomfortable in the presence of pets

The sensitivity of employees who are allergic to pets or feel uncomfortable in the presence of pets needs to be taken into consideration by the company. Hence, there should be a pet-free zone in the company where these employees can work comfortably. Also, ask your cleaning company to completely wash and sanitize floors and surfaces where the pet has been around. If the employees are allergic to the pet, then the carpets of the office need to be vacuumed and cleaned properly so that there is no animal hair or dander in the office.

Ensure that the pets are ready to get in the office

Pets need time to be comfortable in a new environment, hence; always try to see that your pet is comfortable when they are introduced to the employees in the office. You can do this by bringing your pets to the office during off-hours like in the morning before the scheduled start of the office timing or in the late evenings or on a weekend. When there are fewer employees the pet will not find it disturbing. If there are multiple employees bringing pets on the same day it is a good idea to meet each other outside the office with a general introduction and make the pets walk together.

Once you have considered these tips it would make your task a lot easier to make your office pet-friendly. Do you have any other tips that we have missed out on? If yes; then post your comments below.