Surprising Companies Where You Can Take Your Dog to Work on Friday
Published on June 17, 2012
Jobs for dogs! That’s the call to action for the 14th annual celebration of Take Your Dog to Work Day, taking place Friday, June 22.
The event, created by Pet Sitters International in 1999, serves a dual mission: to raise awareness about pet adoptions and to highlight how pets ease workplace stress and boost job satisfaction. In fact, a recent study completed by Virginia Commonwealth University reveals that pets in the workplace elevate office morale.
To hear firsthand about these benefits, Vetstreet spotlights four companies happy to embrace Take Your Dog to Work Day:
Bull…dog in a China Shop?
A company that sells old and new china and crystal might not seem to be the best place to bring dogs — the phrase Bulldog in a china shop comes to mind — but Replacements Ltd. in McLeansville, North Carolina, not only celebrates TYDTWD, it’s pet-friendly year-round. The company welcomes dogs, cats, rabbits, as well as the occasional pot-bellied pig, opossum and duck. With 450 employees, there may be 20 to 30 dogs in the building on any given day.
“Allowing pets in the workplace is truly a part of our corporate culture,” says Lisa Conklin, the company’s public relations manager. “We've found that it relieves stress on a number of levels. Pet owners are relieved they don't have to worry about leaving their pets at home alone and can better concentrate on their daily tasks, while it allows those who can't bring their pets or for some reason can't own them to interact with animals.”
She adds, “We've seen many instances where employees actually got to know each other better through their pets. I do think it means a great deal to our staff; some employees say it is one of the best benefits we offer here at Replacements.”
Based on past years, Conklin expects to see a wide range of breeds, including a Bernese Mountain Dog, Boxers and several cats.
“While every day is Take Your Pet to Work Day, many of our employees aren't in a position where they can bring their pets on a regular basis, but they actually do bring them in for this special day,” she says.
Kids and Pets: Great Partnership
The “clients” of the Child Advocacy Center of Anderson County, Tennessee, are the real beneficiaries of TYDTWD: They are abused and neglected children, or children who are witnesses to or victims of a crime.
“The children love to see the dogs when they are here,” says executive director Margaret Durgin.
Although the CAC celebrates TYDTWD — “I believe it is a small thing that boosts morale and results in better productivity,” Anderson says — the center is dog-friendly throughout the year.
"You may find a dog family member here at any random time," she says. Exhibit A is her Pekingese named Merlin, who recovered from surgery in her office.
"He came to work and attended Child Protective Investigative Team meetings with our multidisciplinary team and a board of directors' meeting," she says. "I was able to focus on work, not on how he was doing."
While the visits from other employees' dogs, such as Gus the Bulldog and mixed-breed Honey Bun, are enjoyed by all employees, Durgin would like to give full employment to another dog.
"What we would really love for our center and the children who come here is a trained therapy dog who could live with me," she says.
A Construction Company Builds Smiles With Dogs
Miley, a Labrador retriever mix and Maggie, a Collie, will be building relationships at Neshkin Construction Company, a family-owned business in Cleveland, Ohio. The general contracting company is generally dog-friendly anyway, but this is the first time it is officially celebrating TYDTWD.
Project coordinator Edie Bees, who owns Miley, says her 3-year-old, 43-pound dog is full of energy, and Bees expects that Miley will enjoy playing with Maggie, who belongs to the company’s receptionist.
“I don’t know how much work we’ll get done that day, but that’s OK,” she says.
Miley has special reason to support the full employment of dogs: She’s a rescue, taken in by Bees when she was just 4 weeks old.
“She was wandering down the street and she found her way into our home, and I don’t know what we’d do without her,” she says. “She’s just a great, great dog, and smart. We just love her to pieces.”
Naples Tourism Center Welcomes Tail Waggers
The Naples, Marco Island and Everglades Convention and Visitors Bureau in Naples, Florida, is participating in TYDTWD for the fourth year, says executive director Jack Wert. Of the CVB’s seven employees, three will be participating, including Wert, who’s bringing his two Miniature Pinschers.
At the CVB, employees who participate in TYDTWD are asked to consider making a donation of money, time or goods to the county animal shelter.
“It’s good for the employees, that therapy thing of having your dog with you at work. But secondly, it also does help our county animal services with things that they need as well,” Wert says.
Is your company participating in Take Your Dog to Work Day? If so, let us know in the comments below. Also check out Vetstreet's article on some of the most pet-friendly companies in the country.
