A growing trend in America is allowing employees to bring their pets into the work place.  Surveys have shown that this can increase employee morale and the overall happiness of an office and according to a 2016 report 7% of employers allow pets in the workplace.  However, is this always a good idea?  What if an employee has an allergy?  Others may feel fear or anxiety when around certain animals, especially larger ones.  What may sound like a simple idea to boost morale could turn into a human resources nightmare.

If this is something that your company would like to consider, the first step would be to survey your staff to make sure that there is consensus support for pets in the workplace.  Despite the number of businesses supporting pets in the workplace, most companies give employees with allergies or anxieties the final say in whether or not to implement the practice.  Assuming the decision is a go, then it is important to develop carefully thought out policies to prevent your office from literally turning into a zoo.  This would involve:

• Reorganizing certain areas to pet-proof the office to avoid any accidents or injuries to employees or their pets.
• Establish certain guidelines, such as
  • Types of pets allowed – for example, dogs and cats, but no snakes or ferrets
  • Limit the number of pets allowed in the office at any one time
  • Behavioral standards to prevent the pets from being disruptive
  • Health and grooming standards for the pets
  • Liability for any damage to property or injury to employees or other pets

While pets in the workplace can improve morale and employee retention, if not implemented properly it can have the opposite effect, or worse result in an employee lawsuit.  If this is something that you would like to consider, please contact John Morlock at Total Team Solutions to see how Total Team Solutions can help you with this and all of your other human resources questions at jmorlock@ttspro.com or 1-800-836-9678, ext. 5.

ABOUT TOTAL TEAM SOLUTIONS:  Total Team Solutions (TTS) is a full service human resources outsourcing company with locations in Trumbull, CT, and Glastonbury, CT, providing payroll services, employee benefits solutions and human resources support to small businesses in Connecticut, New York and Massachusetts. 

A growing trend in America is allowing employees to bring their pets into the work place.  Surveys have shown that this can increase employee morale and the overall happiness of an office and according to a 2016 report 7% of employers allow pets in the workplace.  However, is this always a good idea?  What if an employee has an allergy?  Others may feel fear or anxiety when around certain animals, especially larger ones.  What may sound like a simple idea to boost morale could turn into a human resources nightmare.

If this is something that your company would like to consider, the first step would be to survey your staff to make sure that there is consensus support for pets in the workplace.  Despite the number of businesses supporting pets in the workplace, most companies give employees with allergies or anxieties the final say in whether or not to implement the practice.  Assuming the decision is a go, then it is important to develop carefully thought out policies to prevent your office from literally turning into a zoo.  This would involve:

• Reorganizing certain areas to pet-proof the office to avoid any accidents or injuries to employees or their pets.
• Establish certain guidelines, such as
  • Types of pets allowed – for example, dogs and cats, but no snakes or ferrets
  • Limit the number of pets allowed in the office at any one time
  • Behavioral standards to prevent the pets from being disruptive
  • Health and grooming standards for the pets
  • Liability for any damage to property or injury to employees or other pets

While pets in the workplace can improve morale and employee retention, if not implemented properly it can have the opposite effect, or worse result in an employee lawsuit.  If this is something that you would like to consider, please contact John Morlock at Total Team Solutions to see how Total Team Solutions can help you with this and all of your other human resources questions at jmorlock@ttspro.com or 1-800-836-9678, ext. 5.

ABOUT TOTAL TEAM SOLUTIONS:  Total Team Solutions (TTS) is a full service human resources outsourcing company with locations in Trumbull, CT, and Glastonbury, CT, providing payroll services, employee benefits solutions and human resources support to small businesses in Connecticut, New York and Massachusetts.