Meet the ‘top dog’ at the office
Here at Nestlé UK and Ireland, our Pets at Work scheme is part of everyday life across our York and Gatwick offices and at the East Midlands Gateway distribution centre with GXO Logistics.
Run by Purina, our Petcare business, the initiative has been welcoming pets into the workplace for 23 years, and colleagues say it makes a real difference. Dogs help us get outside, move more, and strike a better work-life balance. 81% of Brits believe pet-friendly workplaces are happier places to be.
So, what does it actually look like in practice? Meet Minnie, a Cavapoo who spends her days at our Nestlé York site.
There’s a lot going on at our York site, home to a confectionery factory, distribution centre, global confectionery product technology centre, Cereal Partners research and development centre, and our main offices. That’s where Minnie prefers to spend her time.
“Apparently dogs aren’t allowed to operate machinery?”
Every morning begins with a stop at the ‘dog wall’, a gallery of all our four-legged colleagues. Tags are flipped from red to green, so everyone knows who’s in the office.
Our spaces are designed with both dog-lovers and dog-neutral colleagues in mind. There are clearly marked dog-friendly and dog-free areas in lifts, meeting rooms and breakout spaces, ensuring everyone feels confident and comfortable at work.
Once Minnie has clocked in, she settles beside her owner’s desk in her cosy bed.
“Here’s base camp for the day. Oh, and I never arrive without my business partner: Ziggy.”
Whilst her owner gets on with emails and calls, Minnie focuses on her version of stakeholder engagement. Anyone passing by is welcome to stop by and give her a quick head pat.
Psychologist Jo Hemmings says the simple act of stroking a dog can reduce stress, lower heart rate and trigger a burst of oxytocin, the hormone linked to bonding and calm. It’s one reason studies show that 91% of people feel more relaxed with a dog around. Dogs also make it easier to chat with colleagues, working as an ice breaker. Most people can’t resist petting or talking to dogs and in that British reserved way, it’s much easier talking to the dog before the owner.
46% of Brits say having a dog at work encourages them to take a lunchtime walk, which is why Purina recommends outdoor space as part of any pet-friendly workplace. At York, that’s Rowntree’s Bark, perfect for getting out of the office into fresh air and giving your dog some exercise.
“It’s a great place for taking care of another kind of business...”
Pets benefit too. They meet new people, socialise with other dogs and enjoy more activity and time with their owners. In fact, 31% of people believe pets are more stimulated at work than they would be at home alone.
By the time the laptop closes, Minnie knows her working day is done. We’ve welcomed pets at work for 23 years because we believe people and pets are better together.
“I’m quite obviously the best part of their job”
If you’re curious about creating a pet-friendly workplace, you can find guidance here.
Research conducted by 3Gem from 25th – 27th September 2019 across 2,000 nationally representative UK adults (over 18).
Hall, S.S., & Mills, D.S. (2019). Taking Dogs into the Office: A Novel Strategy for Promoting Work Engagement, Commitment and Quality of Life. Frontiers (in press).
