Dogs have been proven to enhance employee mental wellbeing
Working from home may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but for some employees it’s given them the chance to cuddle up to some decidedly cuter colleagues.
New Zealand’s annual search for the nation’s top office dog is now underway – with Frog Recruitment looking for NZ’s ‘Top Work from Home Dog’ too.
“When workers were forced to work from home through the COVID-19 lockdown, adapting and readapting to an ever-changing work environment was stressful,” added Shannon Barlow, MD of Frog.
“Our research found a sharp rise in employee burnout, with more than 64% feeling more burnt out at work than they did prior to the lockdown.
“But there is much research to highlight the impressive impact a four-legged friend can have on workplace wellbeing - and more recently, on the mental health of the WFH workforce.
“Dogs in the office or home office help their owners and colleagues by bringing positive benefits including improving morale, reducing absenteeism and stress-related illnesses, and helping to improve employees’ mental health.”
And further research certainly agrees. Studies have found that pet owners are:
- Less likely to suffer from depression
- Have lower blood pressure
- Enjoy higher levels of dopamine
- Take fewer visits to the doctors
A recent report from Central Michigan University also found that having a dog in the office actually makes colleagues more cooperative – with employees more likely to build trust and cohesion amongst each other.
So, if you know a paw-fect pooch you think would make a worthy competitor, head over to www.frogrecruitment.co.nz/nztopdog for more details.