Work Happier & Better Today: The Benefits of the Pet Effect

Since a significant amount of the workforce already works from home, we technically bring our pets to work every day. And our home office community is steadily growing! A survey report from Upwork expects an 87% increase in remote work by 2025 as compared to pre-pandemic levels, and an Owl Labs survey on the present climate showed that 59% of respondents prefer working for a company with remote work structures.

With that in mind, here are some WFH benefits of having a pet:

1. More happiness and health.

You might’ve heard of the “pet effect” from the Human-Animal Bond Research Institute (HABRI), but if you haven’t, we’re happy to bring you the good news. Having an animal friend at home can help lift your spirits, giving people companionship right at home and instilling a sense of purpose by looking after their pet. Pets can even improve your heart health by helping lower your resting blood pressure and supporting healthier blood flow. Being happier and healthier means you can do better work and shine on the job!

2. Keep stress levels down.

Working from your home office already reduces stress, and a pet can boost that for you. HABRI also found that animals you share a bond with help you manage stress as well as anxiety and depression. In fact, the U.S. National Institutes of Health discovered that animal interaction actually reduces cortisol, a stress-related hormone, which is excellent news! High cortisol levels have been associated with various health concerns, from weight gain to impaired brain functions. A beloved pet can help keep these at bay!

3. Better productivity.

When you’re in the office, you don’t know what your pet is up to. Chewing on shoes? Anxious until you’re home again? By being home with your pet, you spend less time worrying and more time working. But that’s not all! A pet can remind you to take regular breaks from your desk, whether it’s for some cuddles or a short walk. That means you can stay refreshed and focused throughout the day.

For those working in the office, there are still perks to bringing your dog with you! Most will line up with what you’ve read above, but some are exclusive to in-person work. For example: communication! It’s easier to say hi to your colleague’s dog first, then bring up work-related discussions.

Now that you know all the good a pet can do for you and your workforce, consider hybrid work structures or inviting employees to bring their pets to work on certain days. Or both! After all, you only stand to gain in both job satisfaction and worker retention.?

Give your pets a treat for us!

Written by: Jaclyn Blute