Lily Shippen Recruitment | Why we should allow dogs in the workplace

Dogs in the workplace is becoming a much more common occurrence, but only 8% of the UK can bring their furry four-legged friends into the office according to research by Reed.co.uk. Bringing dogs into the workplace has been shown to have some hidden benefits (besides having your own personal paper shredder) but what are they? Here at Lily Shippen we are thrilled to be moving into doggy friendly offices. In this blog I’m going to tell you just a few reasons why we will be bringing our furry and adorable companions to work with us.

Dogs are a fantastic way to get sociable. If you are anything like me, when near a cute dog, I cannot resist but to give it a quick stroke. But, you would be amazed of the benefits this can have too not only with your personal social life but to your business also.  Our pups can be one of the best ways to do some networking when taking them along for your next cup of coffee. My dog Cooper is the most sociable dog ever! Making him happy to interact with anyone. So, when he encounters someone walking past it’s an amazing opportunity to spark a conversation that wouldn’t typically have taken place. Not only does it make you more approachable as a person, but studies have shown that they make you come across as more trustworthy. Having a chat over your office doggo allows you to meet interesting people, perhaps grow your network and find some awesome new clients.

Our furry sidekicks are also great mini therapists. Having a dog in the office has been proven to reduce stress and heart rate, whilst increasing productivity. Whenever I’m having a difficult day, having the benefit of taking a break to spend some time with my fuzzy friend immediately cheers me up. No matter how grumpy I am even on a Monday morning, when it’s raining outside, and my computer has decided to do a long update. After some time with my dog it’s guaranteed I will return to the office a different person than when I left. Ultimately, getting much more work done in the long run.

Of course, there is the aspect that dogs need walking and that they do need to be given frequent exercise throughout the day. However, if you are anything like me and the day flies by so quickly before you know it you’re on your way home and haven’t been outside once. Our fuzzy friends are a wonderful way to get your needed time away from your computer screen and get you outside for fresh air. Plus, when you can’t take them for a walk yourself, it gives the chance for your colleagues to get away from their computer screens also- not to mention you not having to do the “long” walk when you get home from work.

All in all, our beloved pets are a fantastic way to boost office morale and productivity whilst increasing the chance of potential business opportunities. We will be taking our pups into our work place, will you?