Who hasn’t spent hours watching cat videos, watching farmers wake up their animals on Tik Tok, or just enjoying some quiet moments with their birds, spiders, snakes or lizards?
Human and animal lives have been intricately intertwined since ancient times.
Not surprisingly, there is a growing trend to include pets at home, at work, and when shopping.
Today, customers are seeking more pet-friendly products and services.
Even workplaces are creating pet-friendly perks to boost morale and work-life balance.
We are doing the same thing.In conjunction with a company-wide mental health day, Search Engine Journal will be participating national pet day off Partner with hundreds of other companies around the world.
Target? Allow pet parents to spend more time with their loved ones and promote good mental health.
We are not alone.
Pets are taking over our lives and workplaces
Animals have traditionally played four important roles at work:
- Working with Humans: Supporting animals, farms, narcotics and more.
- Organizational focus: zoos, aquariums, pet shops, etc.
- Companion animals brought into the workplace.
- Companion animals in the home.
Guess so 70% of North American households own at least one pet.
Given our shared experiences over the past few years, they are becoming important factors in determining where we work and what we buy.
Google reports for searches [pet friendly restaurants] It has been rising since the pandemic.
The same goes for other related searches, such as [pet friendly hotels] and [pet groomer].
But it’s not just different buying habits.
screenshot of google trends [pet friendly hotels]Google Trends, April 2022recent study It was found that six in 10 people had quit their jobs because their workplace was not pet friendly.
An overwhelming 71% have made a major life change because of their pets. farther:
- 48% of respondents said pets increase productivity.
- More than two-thirds of respondents said their pets helped them make an average of seven new friends at work.
- 42% said they have pet supplies such as bowls and bags in their office.
Why pets work at work
We know pets have a positive impact on employees and customers. Research shows that they increase the amount of positive emotions and prosocial behaviors that work teams feel during the workday.
But the benefits go far beyond being happier.
Pets can help people cope with stress and uncertainty, providing much-needed relief from stressful times.
Anyone who gets them up at 7am on their day off will tell you that many pets thrive (and even need) in their day-to-day life, which makes them useful for boosting motivation and starting the day.
Pets often require attention or need to be outside during the day, and employees are encouraged to take time out. Or at least do something different.
This space offers a fresh perspective on the problem and maybe even a little creative inspiration.
Pets also tend to give employees a sense of control and unconditional affection. Sometimes, this is exactly what we need.
After all, if your report is late, they won’t bite you, and if you make a mistake and lose some money, they won’t blame you.
Don’t forget that customers often love pets too.
Perhaps the most powerful are the deeper psychosocial connections.
Pets provide us with simple conversational starting points and points of contact. It is much easier to bond with someone through a pet.
If they love pets, they are just like you. They are part of your “group”.
Social psychology research shows us that in-group/out-group bias can be a powerful driver of society, culture, and connection.
We tend to like people we think are similar to us. We also tend to trust them more.
Pets also link home and work life, potentially increasing company loyalty and improving working relationships between teams and team members.
Has a halo effect.
If you have touching or memorable moments with pets at work, they make you feel good at work, and in this case.
You begin to associate these positive feelings and emotional moments with your work (or at least where you work), counteracting your negative feelings and associations with work and stress.
In fact, the vast majority reported higher job satisfaction when they were allowed pets.
How to Bring the Benefits of Pets to Your Business
Having an official policy about pets is just one way to become more pet friendly.
Create space for them. GoogleFor example, employees are often encouraged to bring pets to work. Doogleplex is worth a look.
Integrate them into company culture. Take advantage of their team-building opportunities. You won’t be the first workplace to do this.
Amazon Employees can enjoy the services of the company’s estimated 7,000 dogs at its Seattle headquarters on any given day.
sales force publicity Its a pet friendly culture with Puppyforce.
Is it really okay to have pets in your business? There are still plenty of ways to be pet friendly.
Get creative or include them in your marketing.
Raise funds for your local animal shelter or partner with animal, environmental or guide dog training organizations.
And it doesn’t have to always be customer-facing.
Consider the needs of employees who may have pets at home. This can make things like long trips more difficult, for example.Initiatives like this national pet day off Can be an excellent mental health day and an opportunity to support pet owners.
You may also want to consider perks such as pet care gift cards, special treats, or regular shipping of pet crates.
What about those who work from home?
Lizards, spiders, snakes, puppies, elderly cats… all kinds of critters can make your day better and work easier. Improve your work-life balance by spending a few minutes with them throughout the day.
At SEJ, pets (and children) make regular appearances during sessions.
We also have an official SEJ-AnimalBros channel on Slack. Here we laugh at funny, spontaneous moments, empathize with each other when a pet destroys another item, and rejoice when one of us brings home a new pet.
Those without pets can join and live dangerous lives through other people’s pets.
Have an unconventional pet? even better. An estimated 69 percent of respondents said rodents break the ice in meetings more often than other pets.
So, don’t be afraid to show off those scales, spines or noses.
After all, if you love your pets, others will love them too.
Featured Image: Shutterstock/Konstantin Aksenov
Reference works:
Colarelli, SM, McDonald, AM, Christensen, MS, & Honts, C. (2017). Companion dogs increase prosocial behavior in workgroups. Human Animals, 30, 77–89. https://doi.org/10.1080/08927936.2017.1270595
Schabram, K. and Maitlis, S. (2017). The Challenge of Negotiating Calling: Emotional and Enacting Implications in Animal Shelter Work. Journal of the School of Management, 60, 584-609. https://doi.org/10.5465/amj.2013.0665
