San Diego CEO Jason Hughes prides himself on giving his team members an award-winning place to work — and that includes getting four-legged friends in on the action. Jason Hughes has made sure Hughes Marino is a pet-friendly place. This is just one of the many progressive policies the San Diego-based commercial property giant has adopted over the years.
Likely in a bid to lure work from home employees back into the office, an increasing number of workplaces are embracing “take your pet to work day” every day, Forbes recently reported. That’s paw-sitive news because the ASPCA says 23 million Americans got pets during the pandemic.
San Diego-based companies like the tenant representation firm Jason Hughes co-owns with his wife, Shay, have always been ahead of the curve when it comes to in-office pets. Jason Hughes recognizes there are many benefits to bringing pets to work. Petco reports in an office environment, pets can reduce heart rate and blood pressure, can ease anxiety and promote calmness, and can even improve office morale, boost productivity, and sharpen focus, especially with quick walks outside. Petco says pets at work can also encourage better social interactions and team collaboration.
At Jason Hughes’ San Diego headquarters, dogs have been a longtime welcome addition to the 11-year-old firm. Puppies such as Brinkley have been known to pop in and snag some cuddles between human meetings.
Thinking about adding the pitter-patter of paws to your office space? Hughes and his team say you can try these tips:
- Read the fine print. If you’re renting your space, check your lease for any pet restrictions. Make sure your landlord is on board with bringing Fluffy to your cubicle. A liability waiver may be necessary to set up a pet policy. Jason Hughes recommends consulting with one’s corporate legal team before setting up a “take your pet to work” standard. When Jason Hughes and the leaders of Hughes Marino’s Denver team were searching for a spot to set up its Denver office, finding a pet-friendly location was top dog on their list. He and the team wanted to be sure the office would have enough space. They settled on a spacious, historic building, and furry friends have been visiting the Denver offices daily.
- Rule of thumb (and paw). So the workplace doesn’t turn into a zoo, put a concrete pet policy in place to avoid confusion and chaos. Jason Hughes says he frequently refers to his company’s core values when making decisions and a pet policy would be no different. For other business owners interested in allowing pets to come to work, Jason Hughes suggests setting a consistent precedent for all pet owners.
- Post signs in your office acknowledging it’s a pet-friendly zone. Dogs may be man’s best friend, but not everyone is keen on Fido, especially in a corporate setting where they might not be expecting it. Jason Hughes advises setting up boundaries on where pets are or not allowed. Pause before you bring in the paws. Remember, pets deserve attention. If someone has many meetings that day or needs to leave the office for any period, they should consider not bringing the pet that day. Pets at work is a privilege and shouldn’t interfere with optimal working conditions.
- Schedule your dog days — and be prepared! Some pets shed and all pets want to be fed, so get those water bowls and treats ready. The Hughes Marino team feels it might be beneficial to fill out a schedule detailing which pets will be in the office and what their favorite treats are. And you might want to stock up on Scotch tape — it will do in a pinch to remove any hairy situations your four-legged friend may leave on your clothes.
- Keep your pet on a leash. This is especially important when walking through the office. Setting up a gated area in one’s workspace is another helpful option.
- Require pets to be housebroken. Accidents happen, but it’s not something anyone wants in the middle of their workspace. No one wants to step in a puddle or a pile of poo. Pets must be taken out for proper bathroom breaks.
- Be respectful of employees who may have pet allergies. For those who suffer from dander allergies, the struggle is real. Consult with all team members and find out who suffers from pet allergies.
- Make sure all pet vaccinations are up to date. Having pet paperwork handy is a must. If one’s pet is not current with shots, it isn’t considerate to potentially expose others to health issues.
- Pet owners must practice proper “petiquette.” Jason Hughes requires any team members bringing pets to work to agree to take full responsibility while at his offices in San Diego or any additional company locations.
- Consult with experts. There are plenty of free resources available online for companies to consider when setting up a pro-pet workspace. Purina.com offers printable guidelines and there are additional materials on petco.com.
So if you’re having a ruff day and pining for a pair of paws under your desk, you can lap up this good news: A majority of 500 C-suite executives — a whopping 72% — replied in a recent study that post-pandemic pet-friendly workplaces are the wave of the future. Grr-eat!
