The office can be a stressful place. For the most part, it doesn’t matter if you run a casual and relaxed operation, meeting deadlines and dealing with people can be inherently nerve-wracking. As a business owner, it is your responsibility to implement ways by which your employees can manage their stress and anxiety levels at work. After all, more than their physical health, their mental wellness can also affect their output and general disposition. At the end of the day, happy employees are productive employees.
One of the best ways to manage your workers’ stress is by making your office pet-friendly. Studies have shown that allowing pets in the office, particularly cats and dogs, can significantly affect employee stress levels. A pet-friendly policy creates better camaraderie among peers, helps develop a better company culture, and fosters a stable work-life balance.
Nevertheless, allowing pets in your workplace can be tricky. After all, cats and dogs need to be tended to. As much as there are benefits, there are real drawbacks to a pet-friendly office. In order to make a seamless transition, there are several things that you need to prepare for.
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There is no denying the joy that your office can gain from allowing pets in your premises. However, with new “workmates” in tow new rules should follow. Developing pet policies can help you mitigate pet-related disasters and nip issues in the bud. Below are some of the rules that are worth implementing:
Vaccines are highly debated nowadays. However, when it comes to allowing pets in the office, shots are non-negotiable. To ensure everyone’s safety, require owners to bring their pet’s updated records before allowing them inside your workplace.
Moreover, it is also a good idea to limit this perk to pets that are trained. This way you do not run the risk of allowing a source of disruption in the office.
Pets are a joy but they can also be a handful. With that said, pet owners are 100% liable for everything their pet does inside the office. They are responsible for making sure they are clean and well-behaved. They also must clean up after their pets and tend to their other needs. While the workplace might provide occasional treats, the meals should also be provided by the owners.
Just because pets are allowed in the office doesn’t mean they have access to every room. In order to ensure that the presence of pets doesn’t affect productivity negatively, you can assign pet-zones across the office floor. This way, your workers can go about their tasks without having to worry about their pets getting into places that would cause problems. If your budget allows it, provide an in-house sitter for these pets.
To be perfectly honest, despite how trained a pet is accidents still happen. So long as these incidents are kept to a minimum it shouldn’t be too much of a problem in the office. As the manager or business owner, it is best to provide cleaning tools to your employees for their pets. This would make them feel comfortable about bringing them in in the first place.
Having dogs in the office is a dream for most people. After all, there is a reason why they say dogs are a man’s best friend. These animals offer energy and positivity that a dreary office might need.
With that said, there are a few caveats to allowing dogs in the office. More than “accidents,” your maintenance team should prepare for pet dander. Dogs shed and your vacuum needs to be up to par with the amount of fur left on every surface at the end of the day.
While they might not bring the same energy as dogs, cats in the office are a great stress reliever. Instead of amping your workers, cats can soothe stress and maintain a peaceful environment.
However, not unlike dogs, cats also shed. This is something that you should prepare for. Moreover, it is also a good idea to have several litter boxes in your pet-zones to accommodate their needs.
Pets in the office can create problems, especially for your maintenance crew. In order to ensure that your pet-friendly policies do not wreak havoc on your operation, below are some useful tips that you should take note of:
Developing policies is one thing, enforcing them is another. We understand that it can be difficult to say no to an incredibly cute dog. However, if they aren’t vaccinated, they shouldn’t be allowed inside the office.
Rules are developed for a reason. They are there to protect not only your operations but your employees as well. Your policies should be strictly enforced in order for the set-up to work.
When it comes to cleaning up after pets, there are very few things more important than spot cleaning. Having cleaning materials in tow is a great way to encourage pet owners to clean up after their pets immediately after they make a mess. The sooner a mess is cleaned the less likely would it incur permanent damage on any surface.
Aside from happiness and stress relief, pets also bring various smells with them. To circumvent the inevitable slight stench, you should have your indoor air system cleaned regularly. This way pet dander doesn’t accumulate.
Aside from maintaining your HVAC, it is also best to use air fresheners, especially in cooler months when it is almost impossible to crack a window.
Pets can complicate office cleaning and maintenance. Your team might not be equipped to handle your new policy. In this case, bringing in the professionals can take a load off of your in-house maintenance crew without sacrificing the cleanliness of your office.
A pet-friendly workplace is a happy workplace. Truth be told, you can expect a lot of improvements in your employees’ disposition once you allow pets in the office. With the tips above, we are sure that your transition would run without a snag!
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