There’s a very furry vibe running through the working world post-COVID, at least in offices that are filling up with employees again now that nearly all pandemic restrictions have been lifted.

                By                    Vance Cariaga

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A rising number of businesses have changed their pet-at-work policies in response to demands from employees who grew attached to their dogs and cats while working remotely the last couple years, according to a new survey from Barkbus, a luxury mobile dog grooming service.

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This shift was very much influenced by the COVID-19 pandemic, especially in terms of dogs, who are much less adaptable than cats to being left home alone. As the Barkbus report noted, dogs “started living their best lives” during the pandemic’s spike in remote working.

“Instead of being in crates during the workday, they were on our laps, getting frequent walks, soaking up the snuggles, and bonding with their best friends,” the report said. “Working from home, pet parents and their four-pawed children finally got to spend mass amounts of quality time together.”

Now that many employers have scaled back remote working, workers want to continue that bonding at the office. Among the Barkbus report’s key findings:

  • 86% of employees would look forward to working more if they could bring their dogs to work daily.
  • If employees could bring their dogs to work daily, they would save an average of $138 a week from no longer having to use doggy daycare or dog walkers.
  • Employees’ most desired perks are bringing their dog to work at least on certain days and having dog-friendly spaces, both indoors and outdoors.

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According to the Barkbus survey, more than one-third (36%) of pet parents want to have their dogs at work with them every day. A similar percentage (34%) would settle for designated doggy days at the office, while 29% said they would at least like extra breaks to check on their dogs at home.

Beyond allowing dogs at work, nearly one-third of respondents (31%) said they would like to see their employers add pet insurance to their employee benefits package. Many also support a stipend for doggy day care, dog walking or “pawternity” leave that lets workers stay home and care for sick or newly adopted pets.

The biggest concern on the part of employers is that having pets at the office might reduce productivity. Only 18% of employers in the Barkbus survey said they would let employees bring their dogs to the office every day, though 31% said they would allow this on certain days.