having a dog in the office doesn't make you less professional
benefits of having a dog in the office
home in the offi ce or aboard a plane.
Carol Cork, co-founder and marketing director of the global booking service for private jet charter, has
been taking her fi ve-year-old dog into work since he
was a puppy.
“Tex loves it, especially meeting clients, partners, and guests,” says Carol, who is lucky to have an area
of parkland across the road from her St Albans offi ce where Tex can be walked at break times.
“Tex’s daily routine starts with running the three or four miles from home to work with my husband,
Adam,” continues Carol. “Then, he’s walked at lunchtime and in the late afternoon.”
Carol explains that Tex has not only benefi ted the atmosphere in the offi ce, which has grown from 14 to
42 employees, but he’s been a commercial success, too, helping to make new business contacts and
share ideas.
“Tex is a natural ice-breaker and a random conversation resulted in a cool creative agency
‘borrowing’ him for the day as a treat for their team,” continues Carol, who admits that
Tex is a great advert for clients who want to fl y with their own pets on board in the cabin.
“We are a professional business — we organise private business fl ights for top celebrities, sports people,
business leaders, and heads of state — but having a dog in the offi ce doesn’t make you less professional.
“Tex is not only a great marketing tool, but he boosts team spirit. It’s relaxing to have a dog
around, fun, and is good for morale. For me, Tex is therapeutic and a great stress reliever.”
Carol adds that any offi ce can work a dog’s presence to their advantage.
“We are all at the mercy of corporate life and need a break from our desks. So, we have walking
meetings and appraisals with Tex. Just having a dog there can make the atmosphere more relaxed,
especially if a problem needs to be discussed. Dogs are a great leveller. Tex slots in very well here, but
not every dog is suited to an offi ce environment.”
“SEEING A WAGGING TAIL CAN MAKE A DIFFICULT DAY BETTER”
her dog into work is no longer a perk, but has been the norm for the past 10 years.
Sarah is rarely seen without one of her three working Cocker Spaniels:
nine-year-old Wispa; Brook, four, or Shrimp, three.
Sarah, from Oxted, Surrey, explains that Nestlé’s large, modern open-plan offi ces
feature dog-friendly, as well as dog-free, meeting rooms, lifts, cafes, and outside
areas, so everyone is catered for. Dogs have security passes, too, while their
owners are allocated ground-fl oor car parking spaces.
Sarah, who’s been instrumental in rolling out Purina’s Pets at Work (PaW)
scheme Nestlé-wide, says that even non-dog-owning employees thought the
policy worked.
“A great deal of planning went into implementing it,” says Sarah. “We ran a dog day and dealt
with any issues or concerns as they arose.”
According to Sarah, dogs have to apply to join the scheme and must meet certain
criteria, and pass a home assessment by an animal behaviourist.
Due to the scheme’s success, the company has launched its Pets at Work
Alliance to support other companies becoming dog friendly. A toolkit, including
advice aimed at small, medium, and large businesses, has been developed.
Sarah adds that benefi ts include improved canine and human socialisation
and interaction.
“Dogs break down barriers and make it easier for people to talk to each other,”
says Sarah. “Seeing a wagging tail or having a doggy cuddle can make a diffi cult
day better.
“Dogs aren’t as disruptive as some people think — it soon becomes business
as usual — and they can enhance an offi ce if it’s done right. We’ve proved that it’s
possible with 1,000 employees.”
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