Pets in the Workplace

Our Meeting Revolution family is growing! Our social media guru, Andrea Lee, adopted a new rescue pup two weeks ago! The whole team is so happy for her. She already has one pup, Poptart, but welcomes Mooncake to her pack. The new rescue is terrified of everything, like fridge doors, cabinets, and floorboards creaking. Andrea thinks Mooncake hasn’t lived in a home before. We are so happy for Andrea, Mooncake, and the whole family!  

Also, recently, our Director of Storytelling, Kristy George, welcomed a new pup, Adley, after the death of her sweet 15-year-old basset hound, Scarlett.  Scarlett often slept under Kristy’s desk, snoring on our team calls.  We love all our teammates, two-legged or four-legged.

Why are we talking about this? Well, we are pet lovers at Meeting Revolution and have often mentioned the importance of having pets in the workplace and at events. While sustainability frequently focuses on the environment, social aspects are equally important.  Harvard Business Review says, “Today, 66% of American households have pets. The numbers are even higher for millennials and Gen-Zs. Almost one in five families added a pet during the pandemic shutdown. Over the past three years, employees have happily settled into work arrangements that involve their four-legged companions: snuggling up during a Zoom call or going on a mid-afternoon walk.”  

Is it beneficial to have pets at work?  

Creating a dog-friendly workplace can have its benefits. A 2019 study by the University of Lincoln revealed that employees who often bring their dogs to work reported 22% higher satisfaction with their working conditions, increased absorption in their work (33.4%), and an overall increase in work engagement by 14.4%.

According to the American Psychiatric Association’s (APA) Healthy Minds Monthly Poll, those who said their pets positively impact their mental health cited several key benefits, including:

• Help reduce stress and anxiety (69%)

• Provide unconditional love and support (69%

• Offer companionship (69%)

• Provide a calming presence (66%)

• Are true friends (63%)

Owning a pet can seem overwhelming, but it is a great way to add structure to your daily routine. Establishing healthy routines for a pet, such as daily walks, healthy meals, and active playtime, provides many pet parents with a sense of purpose and accomplishment.  If you have ever met our founder, Amanda, you know she loves her routines! 

UC Davis says that over 60 percent of dog owners meet the recommended weekly amount of exercise. This means they get 150 minutes of moderate exercise or 75 minutes of vigorous exercise each week. Establishing healthy routines such as daily movement and maintaining a healthy weight can reduce the risk of breast, prostate, lung, colon, and kidney cancers. Walking your dog daily isn't just an excellent way to keep them healthy. It's also a reminder to their pet parents to get physical activity.

The study indicates that pet ownership can also benefit heart health. Just the presence of animals significantly improves blood pressure. Pet owners typically have lower resting blood pressure than people who don't own pets. Regular exercise, such as walking the pup, also lowers the risk of heart disease. 

We understand some people aren’t animal lovers and might resist having pets in the office. To make everyone happy, ground rules should be established. For example, pups should be potty trained, not overly barky, friendly, well-behaved, etc.  Also, offering dog-free zones throughout the office can help create boundaries.  We have also heard of some offices putting pups on the office calendars so everyone knows who is in the office and when.  

This is a different type of blog for us.  It isn’t about an event necessarily, and we aren’t asking about your business.  However, we love all creatures and would love to hear about your furry family members.  Feel free to tell us about your furry friend.