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Dogs at the Office: Secret to Work-Life Balance?

March 20, 2009 RSS Feed Print

Remember when stories about working life weren't all about preventing layoffs, layoff anxiety, the layoff aftermath, surviving a layoff, alternatives to layoffs, and the unemployment rate after massive layoffs? It's Friday, so how about a temporary reprieve from the steady diet with a story on office dogs. Plus, this one has pictures.

At Burgess Advertising and Marketing in Portland, Maine, employees have the freedom to cart their canines to work. Four dogs--Charlie, Moxie, Tar and Dodge--regularly spend the day at work with their owners, reports the Maine Switch magazine. There are real benefits to the practice--one dog owner says it's given her "a lot more flexibility with my time. ... I don’t feel rushed to get home at a certain time.”

"Take Your Dog to Work Day" is June 26. This is the 10th anniversary of the event, which is intended to promote pet adoption. The organizers also say "pets in the workplace boost employee morale, productivity and even sales."

Seems especially relevant now, as there's really no year like this one to boost employee morale.

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We have a similar situation- a boss taking advantage of the situation. I also know of a similar situation in a second company.
Our boss claims that the office dog is a big morale booster. Big morale booster for her, I guess. She never walks her own dog. People are very tired of having to be interrupted to walk her dog.
It's the "office dog" and supposedly we are supposed to "share" the burden because we enjoy the dog's presence. However, we can't understand why the boss isn't sharing the burden!
Unfortunately, even though it's the best dog in the world, people rather dislike it - because of this power - play garbage or whatever her issue is. I can see that sometimes she's too busy to walk the dog. But she'll often go out for a long lunch and return late afternoon and no one has gotten a break. First thing she does is ask if the dog has had a walk and if not, why not.
I know of similar situation in a second company. In both cases the boss is the owner of the company, so I guess everyone has to just deal with it. But in both cases, no one has much respect for the boss and have grown to hate the dogs involved

Pali of NY 1:44PM March 17, 2011

It's not so great when it's not your dog. Our boss brings in her dog pretty much every day. We deal with foul smells, uncontrolled barking, urination and vomiting in the office on a regular basis. Kinds of impedes productivity, not to mention morale of the staff - very inconsiderate, I think.

Susan of MI 3:39PM February 26, 2010

I'm amused and disgusted. I can't beleive there are people out there that are so open about taking advantage of another individual. However, in the same paragragh she tries to adhere to the notion of accountability. America is the way it is today because of people like this.
"usa is already has the LOWEST PRODUCTION that most other 1st world countries in manhours vs. production". I wonder why? Is it because to many people like "you" spend to much time trying to get a hand out.
"i tripped and sprained my ankle in Safeway parking lot last year and just collected $4500.00 for the injury"...what a loser! Now a company has to pay out because you can't walk. Meanwhile that went over the company budget and a hard working employee has to get fired. Sick!! There goes your production. Now the company has to put a sign up that says ,"FLAT SURFACE PLEASE WALK CAREFULLY"
"Id make sure to be the first one to tease one and get bit(or stab myself with scissors) and make an insurance claim for the injuries"...That's mature! It sounds like you have more issues in life than a dog being in an office setting. Maybe you should see a doctor. If you weren't such a masochist you could get a boyfriend. Then again you might try to think up some way to sue him too.
Liz awesome job on this article. Having dogs at work does make a positive difference. I work for a company that allows dogs. A dog in the office can bring the calm out of any stressful situation. It's a shame there are people out there that would rather tease an animal just so they can sue someone.

Voice of GA 8:37PM April 03, 2009

Dogs at the Office: Secret to Work-Life Balance?

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