Data-Driven Benefits of Pets at Work

Take Your Pet to Work Week is on June 20-24th, and the Human Animal Bond Research Institute (HABRI) is celebrating by raising awareness of research that shows the benefits of pet-friendly workplace policies for pets, employees and pet-friendly companies.

As the human-animal bond has grown stronger, pet-friendly workplaces are in higher demand. Those working from home during the COVID-19 pandemic found comfort in being with their pets, and research shows that pet owners want to continue to spend time with their pets, even as more offices reopen. In fact, workers are willing to make significant lifestyle changes to enhance the care and attention they provide to their pets. HABRI’s Benchmark Survey of Pet Owners found that 64% of pet owners expect to spend more time with their pets after the pandemic and 45% of pet owners would be willing to change jobs to increase their time with their pets at home.

Companies that support the human-animal bond will benefit from pet-friendly policies. A study conducted by Nationwide, in partnership with HABRI, found that companies with pet-friendly policies were able to better recruit, retain and engage top talent. This was even true of companies offering pet-friendly benefits even when pets were not physically permitted in the workplace. The survey revealed that 90% of employees in pet-friendly workplaces feel highly connected to their company’s mission, fully engaged with their work, and willing to recommend their employer to others.

Bringing pets to work can be done safely and in a way that accommodates the needs of pet-owning and non-pet-owning employees alike. Many great resources and tool kits are available to help human resource professionals, supervisors and employees think about every aspect of bringing pets to work — for the benefit of all!

While not all workplaces are suitable for pets, the good news is that there is no ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach to becoming pet friendly. Employers can offer a variety of benefits to help pet-owning employees and show they care about the human-animal bond. These can range from allowing paid time off to care for a newly adopted or sick pet, implementing work from home flexibility or offering pet health insurance.

HABRI is encouraging pet owners to share information and have conversations about all the ways pets are beneficial and how their organizations can become more pet friendly. Take Your Pet to Work Week is a great time to get started!