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As an avid animal lover and the proud owner of two Jack Russell terriers, a French bulldog and a white Alsatian, I have long believed in the countless advantages that animals can bring to life. However, less known are the quite a few advantages of getting animals in the workplace.
Animals have the incredible power to interrupt down barriers, create meaningful connections, and build team cohesion. There is even a whole subset of science that helps explain why pets can promote greater well-being, especially in the context of making a pleased and productive workplace:
1. Reducing dangerous levels of stress
Petting a dog or cat Research conducted by scientists from Washington State University has shown that just 10 minutes can have an extremely positive effect on stress. When our body experiences stress, especially chronic stress, which is associated with unhappiness at work and results in lower levels of productivity, the well-known “stress hormone” cortisol as a result, he shall be fired.
However, very high and constant levels of cortisol in our body can be harmful because it can result in a weakened immune system and interfere with insulin levels, which increases the risk of diabetes and causes an increase in blood pressure. The study, a real-life intervention conducted on 249 college students, showed for the first time that cortisol levels actually dropped significantly after just a short interaction with animals.
2. Improving job satisfaction
A 2019 report conducted by scientists from University of Lincoln in Great Britainsponsored by Purina Human-Animal Bond Studies, found that employees who ceaselessly take their dog to work report 22% higher levels of satisfaction with their working conditions. This means it can also increase your overall job satisfaction. Interestingly, Purina’s sister company, Nestle, has been allowing employees to bring dogs into their offices since 2015, which shows that four-legged friends in the workplace can make work more enjoyable and due to this fact desirable in the future.
3. Increasing collaboration and inclusion
For the uninitiated, animals in the workplace can sometimes be seen as a distraction. However, this is not near the truth. There is surprising evidence showing just the opposite. Some article written by researchers from University College London and the National University of Singapore for: Management Journal shows increasing evidence that employees consider that animal-friendly workplaces improve communication between employees and even management.
This shows that this in turn increases the exchange of knowledge, which ends up in increased bonding and trust between employees. The presence of pets is much more necessary for people in the workplace with chronic health conditions, disabilities or mental health issues, which suggests pets can catalyze an much more diverse and inclusive workplace.
4. A happier workplace
Data shows that pets make us happier, even in the workplace. AND test by scientists from Manhattanville College in New York shows that there is a clear link between well-being and interactions with animals. In addition, Institute for Research on Human and Animal Bonds shows that the presence of animals in the workplace increases the levels of dopamine and serotonin in the brain – chemicals that make us feel rewarded and provide a better sense of well-being. Contact with animals in the office also indicates an increase in the body’s levels of oxytocin, a chemical commonly often known as the “love hormone” that makes people feel pleased.
5. Use your personality at work
There is a psychological reason for making pets a part of office furniture. AND test a study of 31 Kentucky firms found that pets accentuate their owners’ personality at work. According to research, animals act as symbols of empathy that employees use as a tool to precise their personality, which works similarly to plants and artworks that add color to offices. A more expressive worker is more prone to add value to the workplace, which increases the team’s creative output, which can increase productivity.
There are scientific arguments for introducing animals into the workplace. Even Google CEO Sundar Pichai agrees that regular visits from his famous labradoodle, Jeffree, make work life even healthier. As a proud owner of 4 dogs, I wholeheartedly agree. I’m sure my Frenchman Harold does it too.