Millions of people around the world have been working remotely ever since the start of the pandemic and one of the benefits of staying home is having your pets nearby throughout the day.
But what happens when we go back and work at the office? Well, a lot of people have started asking their bosses if they can make the workplace pet friendly and according to a recent study, six in 10 companies plan to be more flexible in a post-pandemic world, especially when it comes to making sure their employees’ pets don’t get lonely throughout the day.
The survey of 500 C-suite executives reveals 59 percent plan to allow more flexibility for employee’s post-pandemic and allow employees to continue to work remotely so they can spend more time with their pets. And when asked about future trends, 72 percent of C-suite executives said they expect more workplaces will be pet-friendly after the COVID-19 pandemic.
Meanwhile, another survey polled 1,500 dog and cat-owning employees and discovered that three in 10 of those employees adopted a cat or dog since the start of the pandemic with most (71%) planning to ask their employer to adopt a pet-friendly policy.
Overall, 57 percent said they would be happier returning to work if they could spend the day with their pet by their side while 38 percent said their biggest concern is fearing their pet may face separation anxiety if left home alone all day.
Finally, most people surveyed believe they would be more productive with their pet as a desk mate.