Max is an ideal worker. He's the first one in the door at work every day. He's friendly to co-workers. He is always reliable and supportive of his boss ... uh, actually ... of his owner. Max is a Westie terrier who goes to work every day, thanks to a company pet-friendly policy.

Pet-friendly workplaces are a fast-growing trend across the United States, bringing many benefits for employees. Having dogs around can actually increase productivity, reduce stress and inspire creativity.

Are you curious about how to start a pet-friendly program at your office? Consider these four important steps in this issue of Promotional Consultant Today.

Step 1: Make sure your facilities are equipped to take on dogs. Renting your office space? Check with your landlord to see if they allow dogs on the property. Not everyone likes being near dogs, so have dog-free zones set up for people with allergies and fears. Doggy-dander can travel far, so make sure you find a way to keep employees with allergies comfortable without relying on Claritin®. Finally, make sure there's a grassy area nearby for your dogs to roam.

Step 2: Start a dog committee. This employee-led committee should take charge of all things dog-related, including writing policies (see step 3), conducting interviews with the dogs' owners to see if the pups are a good fit for the office, and following up on dog complaints.

Step 3: Have your dog committee draft a dog policy that's compliant with HR policies. Here are some policy suggestions:

  • Set up an interview procedure for prospective office-friendly dogs. If the dog passes the hygiene and behavioral requirements, give the owner a certificate to display on their desk.

  • Set accountability rules for dog owners, such as owners being responsible to clean up after their dog's messes. Another, for example: dogs should be accompanied at all times (if the owner has to step away for a meeting, they must designate a dog sitter who knows the regulations and can watch the dog when needed).

  • Generate an easily-accessible anonymous dog complaint form that's submitted to the dog committee.

  • Implement a three-strike system. If a dog hits a third strike, request that the dog stay at home until he or she is a bit more mature.

Step 4: Make all doggy-information easily available across the entire company. All employees should be aware of the dog rules so that they understand that the pups don't have free run of the office. Employees should know where to go to report a problem and where to read up on dog policies.

Keep in mind: having dogs in the office is a privilege, not a right. If employees understand this, they'll respect the dog policy and their fellow workers, and you'll be on your way to successfully having dogs in your office all year round.

Source: Nicole Bernard is a communications specialist intern who brings relevant and interesting stories from Softchoice. The Softchoice Corporate Social Responsibility blog promotes sustainable IT solutions and supports computer literacy programs in local communities, and around the world.