Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/713076
August, 2016 l Working World l WorkingWorld.com 11 Barker and his wife, Sandra, are longtime dog lovers. Sandra also happens to be a professor of psychiatry at VCU, and together, the two decided to collaborate on a project that would measure stress levels of people in offices where dogs are allowed. They spent a week at Replacements' facility. The researchers divided the 90 participants into three groups: those who had dogs and brought them to work, those who didn't have dogs and those who had dogs but didn't bring them to work. To gauge stress levels, researchers measured cortisol amounts in participants' saliva at specific moments throughout the day and had them complete surveys about their emotions. What they found confirmed their theory: Dogs in the workplace, in general, make people happier. And less stressed. And more productive. The study found that stress levels were overall lowest among dog owners who brought their dogs to work. Stress levels were highest among those without dogs, and interestingly, stress levels spiked in late afternoon among dog owners who didn't have their pets in the office. (Barker hypothesized this was a result of worrying about their dogs at home alone while the owners were stuck at work.) People who work long hours often hesitate to get a pet, but when they can bring their dogs with them, it knocks down that barrier and can help more animals find homes. The most unexpected result came from observing how pets in the workplace helped employees interact, Barker says. "It's a really positive impact on morale and communication and cooperation," Barker says. "People without dogs would go by and see people with dogs and ask if they could take them for walks. And we also noticed people were much more connective. We call the dogs the 'communicative energizer.' " Joanne Kim says she feels more focused at her job at Marcus Thomas in Cleveland, Ohio, because she isn't worried about Gus at home alone. Marcus Thomas is a Cleveland, Ohio, advertising agency that is easy to identify as a dog-friendly office: Its logo is the silhouette of a black pointer, one paw raised and body poised to indicate that he had found what he sought. Managing partner Jim Nash says the logo is intended to signify how a "faithful companion is pointing the right direction," just as Marcus Thomas advises clients on what to do with communications and positioning products. The company happened to stumble into a dogs in the workplace program at the same time the logo was being developed, so it all works together well. Just as with Replacements, the program developed almost by accident. Creative director Joanne Kim began bringing her Jack Russell terrier into the office because her 70-mile commute took more than an hour. Long hours in the office meant too much time away from her pup, and not enough opportunities for her dog to go outside. Quickly, other employees began to ask if they could bring in their dogs, too, and a dogs in the workplace program began. Every day, Nash estimates, six to 10 dogs are in the 125-person office with their owners. "It's just part of our culture," Nash says. "The nice thing about having them around is it's a typical agency: fast-paced, a lot of quick turnaround things, high- pressure campaigns. So the stress levels can go up. And the next thing you know, you're sitting there working and a dog is there, too. They just have a tendency to bring things back to earth with a little bit of reality." Besides, as Barker noted in his study, bringing your dog to work generally is an attractive benefit to potential employees. It continually ranks as employees' favorite benefit at Replacements, and the company uses it as an enticement when posting job openings. Powerhouse companies such as Google and Amazon have famously allowed dogs in their offices for years. "Having pets in the workplace can be perceived as low-cost," Barker says. "It's a wellness benefit that lots of organizations may want to think about when they look at attracting employees." At The HSUS, the dogs in the workplace program has been in place since 2006. It did not happen by accident. It was researched, planned and well-thought out. And people love it. "Employee surveys have told us this is one of the most popular benefits of working here," says Erich Yahner, archives and research services manager at HSUS and a member of the organization's Pets in the Workplace committee. About 100 dogs are registered for the program at the HSUS offices in Washington, D.C., and Gaithersburg, Maryland. Yahner's springer spaniel mix, Harriet, is a regular. Even president and CEO Wayne Pacelle regularly brings his beagle mix, Lily, into work. Aside from all the expected benefits of the program, such as lowered stress and increased connectivity, The HSUS has found that the program also encourages pet adoption. People who work long hours often hesitate to get a pet, but when they can bring their dogs with them, it knocks down that barrier and can help more animals find homes. At Replacements, Charlie's owner, Headen, has seen how her coworkers are drawn to her dog; she often has visitors waiting at her desk when she returns from rounds of pushing Charlie in his cart. "I'm an afterthought," Headen jokes. "It's always, 'Hi Charlie!' and then, 'Oh, hey, Kim.'" Oftentimes, her coworkers are just hoping to catch a glimpse of him riding through aisles of delicate china to brighten their day. All the other benefits—increased connection, lowered stress, less separation anxiety for the dogs and the chance for hard-working people to be able to adopt and enjoy the companionship of a pet—are wonderful side effects, too. *Adapted from Dogs at Work: A Practical Guide to Creating Dog-Friendly Workplaces. Buy the book through AmazonSmile and a portion of your purchase will benefit The HSUS!. Replacements has had a pets in the workplace program for more than 20 years. It started when CEO Bob Page brought his own dachshunds into the office, enjoyed it and realized employees might like to bring their dogs to work, too. The company also encourages customers to bring in pets as they browse the showroom.