As the early days of the pandemic forced people to hunker down in their homes, avoid social gatherings and forgo the physical work environment, more people chose to adopt a pet in order to combat the loneliness and inactivity that went along with those safety measures.
Thirty-five percent of pet parents who are working remotely say they adopted their current pet during the pandemic, according to a survey from pet wellness retailer Honest Paws. Eighty-eight percent said their dog’s companionship helped them be more productive at work, and 87% said their dog’s companionship helped them better cope with work-related stress.
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For those reasons, employees are far from ready to part with their furry coworkers. As vaccine rates and mandates continue to rise, employees are increasingly concerned about what will happen to their dogs if they have to return to a physical office, and 67% of dog owners say they’d change jobs if their employer decides to no longer offer remote work, the Honest Paws survey found.
“Following months of businesses working primarily from home, many are now requesting employees start to return to the workplace,” Gemma Scholz, vice president of business development at WildGoose, a team building company, said in a release. “For many, this is an adjustment, but for those with dogs, it will take some more getting used to. Therefore, it is not surprising that so many would be willing to [change jobs] should an opportunity arise.”
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But employees don’t have to worry just yet, because for the millions of dog owners in the U.S., dog-friendly offices are springing up across the country and more employers are prioritizing dog-related perks.
“Not only is welcoming pets into the office settling for both dogs and their owners, but there are countless benefits to having a pooch present at work,” Scholz says. “The impact of having a dog in the office has proven to help staff feel more comfortable and their presence eases stress. In turn this enhances employee morale and happiness.”
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In an effort to connect employees with the most dog-friendly companies, Wildgoose set out to discover which cities are the best for dog-friendly workplaces. Scroll through this list of cities and a few employers to learn where these dog-friendly jobs are located.
