Purina Pets at Work Day this Thursday!

Purina Pets at Work Day this Thursday!

3 August 2016, 12:16PM
The PR Shop

A furry friend curled up at your feet, an excited wag when you enter the room or a hearty game of tug-o-war to break up the day’s tasks; many people know the simple joys a pet can bring, so how come those joys don’t feature more at work?
 
Nestlé Purina PetCare is on a mission to bring more pets into the nation’s workplaces with its annual ‘Pets at Work Day’ on Thursday 4th August, because put simply – we’re better together.


 
According to a recent survey conducted by Purina, 85% of office workers were currently not allowed to bring their pet to work. Of those, a quarter said they would definitely welcome a change in their office’s pet policy.
 
The survey also found that people who bought a pet to work smiled more often, were friendlier and got along better with their colleagues.
 
Purina Marketing Head Jennifer Chappell said: “Pets in the office have proven to reduce stress, boost employee engagement and even make workplaces healthier by encouraging regular breaks outside.”
 
Ms Chappell said Purina Pets at Work Day is an opportunity for employers to give a pet-friendly policy a go.
 
“It can be a trial run to see how the office goes with some furry friends around. The first time they come in is of course very exciting, but pets sleep a lot, and once you’ve settled down at your desk for the day they’re usually pretty quick to nap.”
 
An estimated 440,000 New Zealand workers already have pet workmates, and reap the benefits of a pet friendly workplace. The research shows that pets were welcome workmates for workers across a wide variety of businesses around the nation. Even 17% of customer-facing retail trade businesses were happy to share their workplace with pets.
 
The Purina office in New Zealand has been pet friendly for 15 years and offers guides to help establish a pet friendly office.
 
 
Ms Chappell said: “We can have up to seven dogs here at the office on any given day.  There is such a warm, lovely mood in the office thanks to being able to share our workspace with these furry friends, who are really an extension of our families.”
 
All of the information you need to get started with converting to a pet friendly workplace is available on the Purina Pets At Work website: www.purina.co.nz/better-with-pets/pets-at-work/
 
If employers were still looking for a stronger business case to support a pet friendly policy – workers who are allowed to bring their pets to work like their bosses more!
 
Key New Zealand Statistics from the Purina Survey:
 
  • Of the 85% of office workers whose employers did not currently have a pet friendly policy, a quarter (25%) would welcome a change in policy, and 45% felt the impact of having a pet in the office would be very or moderately positive 
  • Almost 7 in 10 people already working in a pet friendly office believe pets positively impact their workplace 
  • On any given day 11% of all pet friendly office workers had a dog onsite compared to only 5% that had cats 
  • People who bought their pets into work smiled more (51%), were friendlier (43%), felt more relaxed (39%) and interact more with their colleagues (33%) 
  • People not working in pet friendly offices indicated that the key benefit of having pets in the office was that then pets wouldn’t be left at home (54%). However workers from pet friendly offices said the key benefit was that it reduces stress (47%) 
  • Almost two thirds (63%) of people who worked in pet friendly workplaces reported that they would view a pet friendly policy as a perk offered by any future employers 
  • While 39% of workers who currently do not have a pet friendly workplace also viewed this policy as a hiring perk, younger people and women were significantly more likely to be attracted to this benefit (47% for Gen Y/Z and 45% for women)

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