We’ve spoken about children at work, and the effects of family illness.
How about critters?
What role (if any) do pets have in business?
I figure there are three schools of thought:
As usual, I expect to learn that I’ve merely … scratched the surface.
I’ll describe my situation, tell a few tales, then open the floor.
Winston and Sarah have mentioned pets in several comments.
I’d love to hear yours too.
Omaha and Graham (pictured) spend each day in or around Empire House.
Omaha curls at my feet for hours.
She’s wonderful company for a sole trader in a solitary trade.
Twitter is awash with pictures of cats lounging on keyboards and monitors.
These suggest many businesspeople keep close quarters with furry friends.
My dogs get me out of the house.
I’m forever tempted to put work deadlines ahead of my well-being.
Left to my own devices, I wouldn’t exercise nearly as much.
But when bright eyes and tapping paws implore you to take them to the sun, it’s hard to resist.
I’ve read that pet owners live longer and have reduced cancer and heart disease risk.
The mere act of stroking fur is supposed to lower your heart rate and stress level.
If you have a bad interaction with a client or supplier, the warmth and unconditional understanding of a best friend can be very calming.
It cuts both ways, though.
When clients visit, critters must vanish.
You can’t have them jumping and pawing.
And that visitor’s chair better be clean.
It’s bad enough when you go to a meeting covered in fur. (The old sticky roller’s a godsend here.)
Sending your clients back into the world similarly hirsute is even worse.
Some larger offices allow pets (and military mascots abound).
Responses range from lifting team morale to finding poo in the boardroom.
Some people can’t handle the distraction of animals at work.
And a cute puppy sure can stop an entire department in its tracks.
Babies have a similar impact, though they don’t tend to chew three-phase power cables.
Then, of course, there are allergies.
Despite the pitfalls, some big firms have a liberal attitude towards pets at work.
How about you?
What do you think of this fuzzy frivolity?
Give us a sign,
lest we do this by
arf.
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Founder & Senior Writer - The Feisty Empire
As founder of The Feisty Empire, Paul has written, edited, proofed and produced print, radio, online, outdoor and business copy for over 1200 organisations of every size and sector. He is extremely versatile, having handled everything from...
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Founder & Senior Writer - The Feisty Empire
As founder of The Feisty Empire, Paul has written, edited, proofed and produced print, radio, online, outdoor and business copy for over 1200 organisations of every size and sector. He is...
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Author
Naomi Helleren Communications Manager - MYOB
August 2, 2011 at 11:08 am
Hey Paul,
Guilty of Tweeting kitty kat pics!
When I work from home I love having Mia around for a cuddle and sometimes a 2 minute break from the computer (particularly if stress levels are higher than normal), but frustration can appear when I’m madly typing away and she decides to harass me for food even though she was fed 2 hours before (and the way she behaves you’d think I haven’t feed her for a year).
I do believe that there are times when pets can add benefit to a work environment.
If I was a sole trader working from home I know Mia would be a great companion (I can shut the door when she harasses for food!).
Author
Paul Hassing
August 2, 2011 at 11:22 am
Nice one, Naomi. You paint a vivid picture. How’s about a piccie of Mia, just for the record …
Author
Emma Mulquiney Online Editor - MYOB
August 2, 2011 at 12:41 pm
While I’d love to be one of those people who can bring a well-mannered, well behaved pooch into work, who will sit quietly in his bed for the day….I don’t actually own one of those dogs. He’s a sweetheart, but our 7 month old Staffy, Diesel, is pretty much a hurricane in a dog suit.
On the flipside, I’m not sure I could productively work from home either. I would cave into the temptation of walking and playing with him far too easily.
How do you balance work time, with puppy time, Paul? Though, I’d haze a guess that your crew are much more low maintenance than young Diesel
Author
Paul Hassing
August 2, 2011 at 12:58 pm
My doggies aren’t very demanding. They’re both over ten years old now. When they were puppies it was impossible to refuse them anything!
Author
Nic
August 13, 2011 at 10:31 am
I have a mobility assistance dog. She’s 14 years old and now retired. But for years she went with me everywhere I went – work, restaurants, school, shopping, etc. She was not a pet, but a working girl. Yet, I got comments from colleagues and people out and about that they thought it was great to see dogs in the workplace. FWIW, everyone in our office misses Wix coming to work with me – even though as a mobility assistance dog she wasn’t allowed to pay attention or be petted by other people than myself.
The key, I think, is to have well trained dogs. And every dog CAN be trained in basic obedience. Start ‘em young and you’ll never have a problem.
And if you want photos of Wix – I have some on Flickr…