Pet-Friendly Culture Sweeps Tech Company Campuses

I love writing about pet tech, probably because I am a total animal nut. When Sony announced a Twittering cat collar, I was all over it.

Likewise, when I read in Business Insider that there was a trackable trend involving pet-friendly workplaces, I latched on.

One Call Now is just one company that has embraced a pet-friendly atmosphere, and it’s been reaping the rewards ever since.

It all started when the company received an unexpected guest – owner Leib Lurie’s German shepard – at its doorway. The dog continued to make the 1.5 mile journey every day, which was enough effort to convince Lurie he needed to change corporate policy for good.

And it turned out to be a great move. One Call Now’s employee retention rate hovers around two or three percent.

As per a survey conducted by the American Pet Products Manufacturers Association, Lurie isn’t alone – about 17 percent of U.S. employers currently allow animals at work.

And the reason for this trend was addressed by Debrah Schnackenberg of the American Humane Association. She said, “There are a lot of people who know they have to spend extra hours at work, particularly in this economic climate.” She then added, “People feel comfortable spending that extra hour or two at the office when they know their dog is right there with them."

But Lurie’s ideas aren’t exactly original.

Ever hear of a company called Google?

That particular business’ main campus is considered pet-friendly, but dogs are expected to be well-maintained. According to Google’s official Dog Policy, “Aggressive behavior, such as growling, barking, chasing or biting, is unacceptable and the pet will have to be taken home on the first complaint. Employees with allergic reactions to dogs may ask the owner to refrain from bringing the dog to the workplace if the presence of the dogs makes it difficult for the allergic employee to work. Pets with evidence of fleas will be asked to go home until the problem has been alleviated. Owners are responsible for cleaning up after pets at all times."

Successful tech companies like Amazon are also on board, so if you’re considering a change in business culture, consider this: let your employees bring their pooches in to work.