Sharing your workspace with animals can provide some unexpected rewards.
When you stop by the NorthBay biz offices, you’ll be met not only by a bright, talented and friendly staff ready to meet your business-to-business needs, but also by an onslaught of woofs, sniffs and wags. Meet Duke, Sam, Cody and (occasionally) Meitte, our unofficial greeters.
“We came from Illinois, and nobody there brings their pets to work,” says co-owner, vice president of sales and Sam and Duke’s dogmom Joni Rosinski. “But when we took over the magazine, we would go places and there would be dogs, and we’d make sales calls and there’d be dogs. Eventually, we said, ‘Hey! Let’s bring the dogs to the office!’
“It’s a great ice breaker. The dogs always get a big reaction. I think it brings out the loving part of human beings.”
A study conducted in 2006 by the American Pet Products Manufacturers Association (APPMA) concluded that employees who share their workspace with animals are more creative, productive and collaborative. What’s more, employees are absent less and experience decreased stress levels, meaning they’re healthier and happier. A few statistics:
• 55 million Americans believe having pets in the workplace leads to a more creative environment;
• 50 million Americans believe having pets in the workplace helps co-workers get along better;
• 37 million Americans believe having pets in the workplace helps improve the relationship between managers and their employees;
• 46 million Americans who bring their pets to the workplace work longer hours; and
• Store owners who take their dogs to work reported increased sales. Conversations with some pet-friendly offices here in the North Bay seem to bear out the APPMA findings.
It’s a dog’s life
Green Valley Consulting Engineers in Santa Rosa has been dog-friendly since the company started about 10 years ago, thanks to founder Liz Ellis, who’s English spaniel Cody was an office mainstay from the beginning. Cody had to be put down earlier this year, and LD (Lucky Dawg), the elderly fellow Ellis adopted from Spaniel Rescue a few weeks later, sadly joined Cody only recently. (But don’t worry—all dogs go to heaven!)
Green Valley moved into new offices earlier this year, with three times the floor space and an open and fluid layout (a good number of offices have interior glass walls with sliding doors that open to a central area furnished with couches, a saltwater fish tank, live plants and plenty of skylights). On the day I visited, many of the glass doors were open to the common area, and an occasional dog could be seen wandering through.
“We’ve had as many as six dogs here on the same day, and it’s never been a problem,” says office manager Mary Johnson.
“We have five or six dogs that rotate through these days,” she continues. “There’s usually at least two up front, and in the back room, three guys share space with a few black Labs.”
Autodesk’s corporate offices in San Rafael have been dog-friendly for at least 15 years. “I think people who are pet owners see it as a benefit,” says Amy McKee, director of global talent acquisition, “because they’re able to work more hours—if a project requires that—without having to worry about their pet at home. I also think it promotes happier employees, because people are bonded with their pets. And if they’re able to have that part of their family with them throughout the day, it’s a definite positive.”
NorthBay biz senior graphic designer and Cody’s dogmom Anne Schenk can attest to that. “I had always wanted a job where I could bring my dog,” she says. “Sam and Duke weren’t here the day I had my interview, but the design director at the time stressed that this was a very dog-friendly office.
“It was very appealing to me. Dogs add a sense of calm; I think they’re mood boosters.”
Schenk signed on in September 2003; Cody became an office mainstay a few months later. “Coming here gives him a sense of purpose,” she says. “On the days he knows he’s coming, he’s all excited. But when he has to stay home, he acts depressed—or at least sad.
“Initially, when he started coming to work with me, he was very timid and hid under my desk. But as he’s blossomed, he’s become much more outgoing. He makes his rounds now and visits people.”
No dogs allowed
Of course, dogs aren’t the only ones benefiting from this relaxation of corporate culture. Cats and other creatures are also settling in at some North Bay companies.
At Lixit Corporation in Napa, you’ll find Taz the cat monitoring office activity from his favorite vantage point, CFO Laurie Corona’s desk. “We’ve always had cats,” she says. “Our original cat, Lixit, passed away a few years ago. Taz was a feral kitten who ran up a tree in front of the building, then fell and broke his leg. We had his leg fixed, and he’s been here ever since; he’s about 10 years old.
“In the past, one or two people have brought their dogs in, but because of the cats, it’s not really as welcoming. And some of our employees are afraid of bigger dogs, so that’s a consideration as well.”
Lixit manufactures animal watering devices (you know, the upside-down bottles with a metal ball in the drinking tube) and other animal care products. After business hours and on weekends, Taz has free run of the warehouse. He’s banned, however, from Sales Manager Sonia Wertz’ office—home of Willy, the “special needs” Guinea pig. “Willy was born with tilt-head disease, so one side of his face is a little odd and one of his front feet is more of a flipper,” Wertz explains. “We wanted a Guinea pig, and I used to work for 4-H, so I called and they gave me the name of a lady here in town who breeds them. Willy needed a home and he was just a little disabled, but he fit in fine with our group.”
On the day I visited, employees were still reeling over the sudden, unexpected death of Lily, a rat who had shared the office with Wertz and Willy. Plans were already under way to bury her under the front bushes, in close vicinity to a hamster who called it quits some years ago. Wertz and Corona laugh at the memory of the landscaper’s expression when asked to dig his hole a little deeper that day.
Unlike dogs who visit the office with their owners, Taz and Willy are company animals. “We don’t like to encourage personal pets, because it would cause a bigger disruption,” says Corona. “We do occasionally buy new animals to test products like the water bottles. We’ve had hamsters and mice, but we usually find them a home after a while.” (Willy spends his weekends at the home of an employee who has two young children.)
“We have so many employees, we can usually find someone here who wants a pet,” adds Wertz. “And then we’ll set them up with a cage, a starting supply of food and litter and, of course, water bottles and food dishes.”
Warm fuzzies
Everyone interviewed for this article agreed that having a pet-friendly office was a positive—even (for the most part) among employees who don’t have pets of their own.
“It speaks to the culture of the company,” says McKee. “Most people, even if they don’t have a dog, think it’s fantastic. I don’t have a dog, but I’m always asking the lady next to me to bring in hers. And I’ll watch her dog if she has a meeting to go to. It’s just nice to have a dog around.
“I’d say it definitely works in our favor,” she continues. “It’s a great selling point for Autodesk as a company. It’s also a great retention issue, because if bringing your dog to work is important to you, it’s going to be harder to leave.”
According to Mary Johnson, having dogs in the office provides an even more immediate benefit. “Having them come up to you throughout the day encourages you to take a break to pet them or play with them. It allows you to relax and focus your attention away from the computer or the phone for a few minutes,” she explains. “For the pet owners, it forces them to step outside for a short walk a few times a day, which is rejuvenating.
“And the unconditional attention they give you; the spontaneous humor throughout the day…it’s priceless.”
Corona picks up the thread: “He’s a funny cat and makes us all laugh,” she says of Taz. “He’s kind of a pain in the neck—he’ll head-butt you if you’re not paying enough attention—but there’s also a calming effect. Even Willy is quite cuddly. It gives us a reason to take a break and get away from what we’re doing for a little while.”
Of course, having animals around isn’t always calming. Try to make a phone call at NorthBay biz when the FedEx guy is due, and you’re conversing at your own risk. (Of course, he brings treats, so the commotion is his own fault!)
And Johnson admits that Green Valley has an unwritten policy that “no one can throw a ball for Cinder [a sweet-but-boisterous, charcoal gray terrier mix owned by landscape architect Scott Graefen] before four o’clock. Because that’s what the whole day becomes about from then on.” But overall, the downside of pet-friendly work situations seems small.
“I guess the fur on your desk could be a downside,” laughs Laurie Corona.
Please don’t feed the animals
Two recent emails that circulated through the NorthBay biz offices triggered howls of indignation and some of the biggest, saddest, most pitiful faces you can imagine. The first, sent by Joni Rosinski, announced the sad news that, at a recent checkup, the veterinarian had determined both Sam and Duke to be overweight. Serious snack restriction was imposed.
Shortly thereafter, this nugget arrived from Anne Schenk: “Cody has asked me to relay this request to you. In his mature age of almost 13, he wants to try to maintain his ‘boyish’ physique and since he realizes he has no willpower, he’s asked that treats be kept to a minimum.”
We’re not alone. Johnson reports occasional snack-limiting requests from pet owners at Green Valley as well. “[The dogs] all know exactly who has treats in their desk, and they make the rounds,” she laughs.
And Sonia Wertz says, “Willy’s a little chubby, because everyone wants to give him treats. So we try to have small treats so everybody can give him something but it’s not too much.” A true mother hen, Wertz has begun growing carrots at home and bringing in tiny baby carrots—greens and all—for Willy’s official treats. “He’s like a cat with a can opener,” she laughs. “He knows his snacks are in the refrigerator, so when he hears that door open he comes right out.”
Ask any pet owner, though, and they’ll tell you imposed diets only go so far—especially when you’re dealing with chronic lunch thieves.
Employees’ rights
What about employees (or prospective employees) who aren’t as keen on sharing their workspace with animals?
The hiring process, of course, has to be slightly expanded to include information about the animals. And though Autodesk is the only company included here with an official Dog Policy, all employers expect basically the same level of care for the animal and consideration of co-workers.
“Everybody here loves animals, and you can tell that,” says Rosinski. “But there are times when people come in and aren’t as comfortable [around them], so we have to lock Sam and Duke in an office for a while.
“But as the owner of your pet, you need to be aware of other people around you and make sure you’re keeping your animal under control.”
McKee agrees: “We always want to be sensitive to people who aren’t as open to dogs,” she says, “whether it’s because of allergies or another reason. We have pretty strict guidelines, so I think a lot of the things that could become a problem are addressed before they can escalate.”
“We have someone here who told us during the interview process that he was allergic,” says Johnson. “We were very clear that this was our environment, and he chose to come aboard anyway. He’s out in the field a lot, so we keep the dogs out of his space. And as long as he’s not locked in a room with one of them, he seems to be fine.
“There are, of course, some people who aren’t crazy about them—and for some reason, the dogs seem to sense that and, ironically, seek them out. But it’s never gotten to the point where someone has said, ‘I can’t work here.’”
“Everyone we’ve ever interviewed, he’s been around,” says Corona of Taz. “We try to be pretty up front: ‘And by the way, he might live on your desk. I hope that’s OK.’ We get a big response. It makes people relax, I think.”
So let’s recap
Animals at work = productive employees.
Animals at work = a calming effect.
Animals at work = just plain fun.
Productive, calm and fun? Sounds like a great place to work.
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