JOIN USFlexible timings, friendlier superiors, faster internet or even a better coffee-vending machine – there is a wish list in every office-goer’s mind that consists of things that can make his/her corporate life easier. And for pet lovers, ‘I wish I could take my pet to the office’ is a fixture on that list. But it may not be a far-fetched idea anymore.
Pet-friendly offices are becoming increasingly popular in the West with behemoths like Amazon, P&G, Zynga, Samsung and Google throwing open their doors for the four-legged friends of their employees. Though this practice is still not very popular in India yet, many voices are being raised in support for what would be the first step towards a much happier workplace.
Says Sreesanth Sree, a professional, “There have been many times when I would just reach under my chair to pet my dog and suddenly remember that I was in office. When you are having a rough day at work or just feeling a little low, having your little friend next to you can work wonders. I had always wished for an office which allowed this. Most pets are well-trained and will cause no trouble at all. And it is not just for the owners. Anyone can play with them and feel cheered up.”
Slowly but steadily, companies are starting to realise the hidden benefits behind allowing such a concession. Says Anuradha Singh, a professional,“I really feel offices should be made pet friendly because having a dog around is such a stressbuster. With our crazy work schedule it helps to have the happy paws around! Also there are a lot of single people who have adopted dogs and this is something we need to encourage. So if we could take our dogs to office even once or twice a week, it would be huge relief.”
An ardent dog lover, Arpita says she always wanted to work at a place which allowed pets. So when she founded an online store, Buttercups, she decided to take her Irish Setter, Maggie, along with her to office. Since then Maggie has become a regular member at the office and is even mentioned on the company’s website as a key member of the team. “I couldn’t imagine leaving Maggie at home alone,” says Arpita. “Now she is friendly with everyone in office. In fact, if she is not seen for 10 minutes, people start asking about her. Also, when we hire people, we ask them if they have dogs and inform them about the pet-friendly nature of our office.And since we are a small team, we have really bonded over Maggie.”
DriveU is another office which is a fully pet-friendly zone. With all 3 founders — Rahm Shastry, Ashok Shastry and Amulmeet Singh Chadha — being pet lovers, this was only natural. “At DriveU, all employees bond over feeding dogs, playing football in a mini football field outside and taking them for walks. Most of the rooms feature water bowls, dog beds, cleaning wipes, dog biscuits and toys. We hope more companies can follow our lead to allow pets in the office and more importantly promote rescue of street dogs to give them a better life that they truly deserve,” they say.