Staying Paw-sitive in the Workplace

“The world would be a nicer place if everyone had the ability to love as unconditionally as a dog.”

―M.K. Clinton

In a dream world, my dream world anyway, I would be surrounded by dogs all day every day. When I first received the opportunity to interview at Gossip Genie and was informed that the office was dog friendly, I couldn’t believe my luck. Nothing, and I mean nothing, will calm your nerves during an interview like having the head of a sweet pup in your lap.

When I walked through the door on my first day, I learned that not only was the office dog friendly but that there would be two little fur babies gracing me with their presence from 9-5. Best office ever? I think so. During lunch one day, the Genies got to talking about how just petting one of the dogs could instantly relieve stress, if even for only a minute. This got me thinking about other offices and their pet policies and what the benefits might be.

Among the thousands of dog-friendly workplaces across the United States are companies such as Google, Ben & Jerry’s, Amazon, and Clif Bar & Company. These types of companies are generally known for their above average workplace environments and policies that cater to the employees. So what made companies like these decide to allow dogs in the office? A survey conducted by the American Pet Products Manufacturers Association showed that between 70 and 75 million Americans believe that having a pet in the office reduces stress and makes people happier and around 46 million agreed that it also leads to a more productive and creative working environment. Another experiment out of Central Michigan University showed that employees were more likely to communicate with and trust one another.

Because I’m not completely naïve, I know there are a group of people that exist on this planet who don’t like, or are allergic to, dogs. Oh, and cat people. That being said, dogs might not be perfect for every office. However, for the short time that I’ve worked at Gossip Genie, it’s obvious to see that everyone is more productive and generally happier with two furry bundles of joy hanging out. When you open the door and are greeted with wagging tails and lots of kisses, it’s impossible to be anything but ecstatic. So thank you, Gossip Genie, for the most awesome work environment and two best office dogs a girl could ask for!