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Should pets be allowed in the workplace?
Pets Should be Allowed at Work
Pets Should be Allowed at Work
Story by Kiana Yesarski
We should have pets in the workplace. Animal-friendly workplaces can reduce stress and increase productivity. However, others might say that pets in the workplace shouldn’t be allowed. The benefits outweigh the negatives; we should have pets at work.
Animals in the workplace reduce stress in their owners. “The top motive for making this allowance is the stress-reducing effect that animals bring.” (Source). This shows that by being with their pets, owners are more likely to stay focused on their tasks. “It’s no wonder that Animal-assisted Therapy is recognized as one of the leading treatments for post-war PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) and is gaining ground as a popular solution for social workers.” (Source) This is an example of how people with PTSD feel safe with their pets at work for company. This also helps them to become more sociable to other co-workers.
In addition to animals being sociable, animals in the workplace increase productivity in their owners. “Employees who are less stressed at work are more productive and miss fewer days due to being sick.” (Source) Pets with their owners helps the owners to stay healthy and have a positive well-being. There will be less medical leave and help workers focus more on their jobs. “Keeping the office engaging and exciting can be a struggle, and combatting organizational stress may be key to improving a company’s profits.” (Source) Pets are one way to keep the office engaging and exciting.
Some people don’t want pets in the workplace because they are concerned about the possible contamination of products being made there. Businesses that provide medical functions or food businesses can be affected negatively if pets are brought to work. This shows that pets shouldn’t be near chemicals, medical equipment or food production facilities. “In such environments, pets pose a genuine contamination hazard and are best kept out, no questions asked.” (Source). By keeping pets out of the workplace, accidents are more preventable and that the animals should stay at home. This may be true but it is worth it because of the joy pets bring. We simply need to keep pets away from areas that can be contaminated!
Some people say that having pets in the workplace helps to reduce stress and increase productivity in their owners. Other people might say that having pets in the workplace shouldn’t be allowed because they can contaminate the products. We should have pets in the workplace because they help to reduce stress and increase productivity so that tasks can be done. Some people say that pets in the workplace help to boost morale.
Pets Should not be Allowed in the Workplace
Pets Should not be Allowed in the Workplace
Story by Tina Xie
Nowadays more and more people are starting to keep pets, but everyone usually has to go to work, so there is no one to take care of their pets. Therefore, whether pets should be brought to work has become a problem. It is true that many companies are beginning to allow pets into the workplace, but I think pets should not be brought into the workplace.
Bringing pets to work may pose a health risk to employees. Some people don't like animals for personal reasons, and one of the main reasons is allergies (Source). According to a survey by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, Americans with some kind of pet allergy account for 15 to 100 percent of the total population. Thirty percent of these allergies are so severe that they can cause rashes, temporary breathing difficulties, panic attacks, and even severe respiratory illness (Source). Furthermore, every new animal brings its own social complexities, not to mention the possibility of infectious diseases, and employers rarely provide proof of vaccinations, and parasitic infections such as rabies, ringworm, scabies, etc. These situations can lead to workplace pets infringing on the productivity, quality of life, and health of these individuals.
There are certain potential risks associated with bringing pets to work (Source). Many industries, by their very nature, are not conducive to letting pets roam around, such as medical institutions, pharmaceutical companies, chemical laboratories, and food companies are all industries where pets may pose a serious threat to the quality of the final product or service. Pets pose a real pollution risk in environments like this (Source), and there are also industries like construction and mining that can be dangerous to the health and well-being of pets, so pets should not be brought into these workplaces. Not only is it irresponsible for pets, it is also irresponsible for corporate products.
Bringing a pet to work comes with a cost (Source), and as any pet owner will tell you, the joy of owning them doesn't come cheap. From $1,570 per year for a large dog to $575 for a parakeet, the price of pet ownership continues to rise. If you think your costs stop there, you're wrong. Workplace pets also present a built-in deterrent to employees seeking career opportunities within your organization. With the market for talented and qualified workers so scarce, adding additional filters to the hiring process may not be the smartest idea for competitors.
While some say (Source) employee satisfaction is an ongoing concern in an engaging and exciting place of work and research shows that over time, unhappy employees can cost a business thousands of dollars in sick days, mediocre work,and disruptive behavior. Maybe bringing pets to work actually improves happiness and reduces stress, but if a problem occurs, such as the points I mentioned above, it is no longer a question of improving happiness. Not only will a certain amount of compensation be required, but it will also cause a lot of trouble.
After these points of analysis, the workplace really is not suitable to bring pets into. Bringing pets to work poses a threat to the health of employees, there are potential risks not only to pets but also to people, and there is also a certain cost to the company.
This is Mrs. Snyder’s rottweiler named Gustav who spends his days with the Snyder family. She shouldn’t bring him to work because he gets grumpy. Photo by Mrs. Snyder.
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