Paws & Productivity

You know those days when everything feels a little too tense and everyone’s on their third cup of coffee by 10 a.m.? Now picture this: in the middle of that spreadsheet marathon or Monday morning meeting, a golden retriever wanders by with a tennis ball in its mouth, looking for someone to play. Instant mood shift.

Bringing dogs to the office might sound like a quirky perk, but it’s actually becoming a go-to move for companies (like KR Squared) looking to boost morale, reduce stress, and make the workplace, well, more human. And science is totally here for it.

Researchers at Virginia Commonwealth University found that people who bring their dogs to work have significantly lower stress levels than those who leave them at home. In fact, It’s not just a morning thing because cortisol levels stayed lower throughout the entire workday. You see, having a dog nearby reminds us to breathe, laugh, and take a break. 

Dogs also have a sneaky way of making people interact. A national survey by Banfield Pet Hospital found that 67% of employees in pet-friendly workplaces said dogs helped them build better relationships at work. They break the ice, they start conversations and create this low-key sense of community that you can’t manufacture..

And don’t even get us started on the mental health benefits. Most of us know we should be taking breaks, but seriously, do we? But when your dog gives you the look (you know the one), you get up. You go outside. You get a few minutes of fresh air and sunshine, which is wildly underrated when you’re deep in back-to-back meetings. 

But the best part? Employees like the vibe. In that same Banfield study, 88% of people at dog-friendly companies said they’d be more likely to stay at their job long-term. I mean, let’s face it: benefits like a kombucha tap are great, but letting someone bring their dog to work hits different. Waaayyyy different.

So if you’re still debating whether dogs belong in the workplace, consider this: they are the emotional glue of KR Squared. In fact, we like to call them our support staff. Oh, and one big perk, they never complain about meetings.

Seems like a pretty good hire to us. 🐾