Chapter 16: Canines and Cubicles: Dogs in the Workplace

More and more companies are promoting dog-friendly workplaces and dogfriendly policies (DFPs), ranging from doggie-day care to bring-your-dog to work policies. The corporate trend of canines in the day-to-day workspace is growing and will continue to grow in the near future. We will examine the reasons behind this trend, and the workplace policies that must evolve with it. Emerging research demonstrates positive physiological and psychosocial benefits of the human-canine bond, as well as the net-positive impacts on the workplace environment. These findings provide corporate leadership with a foundation to create DFPs appropriate for their companies, allowing for potential increases in worker happiness and productivity. The chapter concludes by recommending a thoughtful and intentional approach to allowing dogs in the workplace, along with recommendations for implementation and issues to consider when creating DFPs.