Even if you enjoy your job in general, office work can get a little long in the tooth. It’s just a fact of life; sitting in one spot for long periods of time doing repetitive tasks can grind on you. When employees get tired, productivity goes down, and everyone has a bad time. There is, however, a relatively easy solution for dull work environment malaise. No, it’s not a sign that says “No Loafing,” it’s a dog.
Pets in the office have been clinically proven to reduce stress in workers and, by extension, increase productivity. When a furry friend is nearby, the levels of cortisol, the primary stress-causing hormone, drop in your brain. At the same time, another hormone, oxytocin, increases production, leading to more feelings of general happiness and relaxation. Seriously, there’s some real science to all this. Researchers at Virginia Commonwealth University checked cortisol levels in workers with a dog present compared to workers without a dog present, and found a significant decrease in the former.
And when work still stresses you out, you know what else a dog provides? An excuse to go for a walk. Nothing helps that tired chair-sitting butt like a spot of exercise and fresh air. Pet owners are also generally considered by others to be more friendly and sociable, so if you have a dog in the office, you might be able to clench that big deal.
