Purina Launches Inaugural Pets at Work Report

New survey data indicates pet-friendly workplace benefits are viewed as top drivers for morale and retention

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Jun 20, 2017, 08:02 ET

ST. LOUIS, June 20, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Research has found that employees who bring their pets to work tend to have lower stress levels by the end of the day, and that their pet can help reduce blood pressure, decrease loneliness, help lower cholesterol levels and encourage physical activity.¹

In celebration of National Take Your Dog to Work Day on June 23, Purina today launched the first Pets at Work Report, examining pet owners and their attitudes around having pets in the workplace, and the benefits it brings to employers and employees.

Purina has launched its first annual Pets at Work Report in celebration of National Take Your Dog to Work Day on June 23 to help raise awareness around the benefits of bringing pets to the workplace.

For almost 20 years, Purina has encouraged its associates to bring their pets to work, while recognizing the positive impact pets can have in a professional environment. The pet food maker wants other companies and organizations to follow suit and open their doors to pets.

"Pets bring a wealth of benefits – both physical and emotional – to pet owners and their families, so it's no surprise those same benefits also apply to the workplace and employees," said Dr. Kurt Venator, DVM, PhD, and Purina's Chief Veterinary Officer. "Whether a pet helps provide a calming sense during a challenging situation or encourages employees to take a walk during their lunch break, here at Purina, we experience the benefits of pets at work every day and want others to as well."

The Pets at Work Report features data from a recent survey conducted between May 11-16, 2017 among 1,004 U.S. general population respondents currently employed, including those who work in pet-friendly workplaces. The survey found that pet-friendly work environments are viewed as both exciting and innovative, and even discovered that more than half of dog owners in pet-friendly workplaces bring their dog to work at least once a week in addition to lunch meetings, work parties and meetings with their boss. Furthermore, the survey showed that employees at pet-friendly organizations ranked having pets at work second in terms of most valuable work benefits – ranking higher than free coffee and parking. Additional findings of the Pets at Work Report include:

63 percent of employees in pet-friendly workplaces indicated they are "very satisfied" with their work environment – and this is nearly twice as many as those in workplaces where pets are not allowed
Eight in ten people in pet-friendly workplaces also say that having a pet at work would make them feel more happy, relaxed and sociable
65 percent of employees at pet-friendly workplaces say that it is important to them that a potential employer allows pets
19 percent of cat owners in pet-friendly workplaces bring their cat to work daily; 20 percent of dog owners bring their dog daily
One in three people in non-pet-friendly workplaces wish they could bring their pet to work

"Based on the findings in the report, three in five of those surveyed who wish their workplace had a pet-friendly policy said they would spearhead efforts to make it happen," Venator said. "With that said, our hope is that the annual report will continue to raise awareness and arm employees and employers with insight that can help facilitate pet-friendly environments within their companies."

Pets at Work is an ongoing movement that remains an important initiative for Purina and was demonstrated last year when Purina and several pet-friendly companies collaborated to break the existing record of most pets in the workplace in one day: 691 dogs and cats. To help other employers who are considering starting their own Pets at Work program, Purina has created a digital toolkit with tips and tools such as office checklists, signage and authorization forms. The free toolkit is available for download at www.purina.com.

To learn more about Purina's efforts to celebrate pets in the workplace, visit www.purina.com/petsatwork.

About Nestlé Purina PetCare
Nestlé Purina PetCare promotes responsible pet care, community involvement and the positive bond between people and their pets. A premiere global manufacturer of pet products, Nestlé Purina PetCare is part of Swiss-based Nestlé S.A., a global leader in nutrition, health and wellness.

About the Survey
Penn Schoen Berland (PSB), an independent research company, conducted the poll on behalf of Purina, distributing 1,004 total online interviews among U.S. general population respondents who are currently employed, including those who work in a Pet-Friendly workplace, between May 11-16, 2017.

¹ Randolph T. Barker, Janet S. Knisely, Sandra B. Barker, Rachel K. Cobb, Christine M. Schubert, (2012) "Preliminary investigation of employee's dog presence on stress and organizational perceptions", International Journal of Workplace Health Management, Vol. 5 Iss: 1, pp.15 - 30

SOURCE Purina