"What's the point?" many people ask themselves. A scruffy, sometimes smelly four-legged friend is hardly going to do the accounts, let alone make phone calls. Nevertheless, more and more offices in Germany swear by the presence of their loyal companions.
Anyone who has experienced it knows: an office dog greatly enriches everyday office life. Employee satisfaction increases, and with it the general working atmosphere. A study conducted in 2012 found that dog owners who are allowed to bring their four-legged friends to work are measurably less stressed than their colleagues. There are also a number of other studies that support this finding.
The hormone oxytocin is responsible for this. It encourages social contact and strengthens bonds. It also does something good for our health and, in addition to lowering blood pressure and slowing the heart rate, it also helps to reduce the stress hormone cortisol. A dog in the office can therefore be very useful through its effect on its environment. Nevertheless, it should be clear that there are a few things to consider when welcoming a new employee to the office. This may be incomprehensible to proponents, but not every colleague is a dog lover. It is therefore advisable to consult with the entire team beforehand. In addition, tenants in particular should note that their landlords should also be involved in such decisions to avoid unpleasant consequences.
As a general rule, a dog is not just there to "entertain" colleagues. Keeping a four-legged friend also requires certain responsibilities in the office. For example, there should be enough space and places for the animal to retreat to, and enough time should be set aside for regular walks. We believe that an office dog is an asset from whom you can learn a lot: he is always happy, in a good mood in the morning (even on Mondays), and is not afraid of deadlines or quarterly figures.
- it's contagious!
