The Purr-fect Solution: How Pets Elevate the Remote Work Experience

Caring for pets enhances the remote working experience.

This article was first published on November 29, 2023, by HR Daily Advisor, a sibling publication to HealthLeaders.

The recent buzzword in the tech industry has been “efficiency.” Yet, as big tech companies push for more streamlined operations, there’s a concerning trend: a sharp decline in employee satisfaction.

This sentiment isn’t unique to tech, of course. Workers in finance, consulting, and other areas echo similar feelings.

In companies’ quest for increasing efficiencies, how can they boost morale and productivity?

Enter our four-legged friends.

Pets Are Making a Difference for Employees

A recent survey by TrustedHousesitters, a pet-sitting platform, offers a fresh perspective on this. The platform, which facilitates unique home stays in exchange for pet care, delved into the role of pets in the remote working paradigm.

Its findings? A whopping 91% of more than 2,000 respondents affirmed that caring for pets enhanced their remote working experience.

“The impact that pets have on the remote working experience helps explain why remote workers continue to be so active on TrustedHousesitters, with over half—or 54%—of remote and hybrid respondents saying they pet-sit at least once a month or more,” the company says. The survey demonstrates the important role pets can play in supporting remote workers. “They provide companionship and help facilitate a much-needed balance between virtual work and life, resulting in happier, more productive workers,” says Angela Laws of TrustedHousesitters.

The survey highlighted three pivotal areas where pets make a difference:

Work/Life Balance
Nearly half of the respondents felt pets nudged them to take screen breaks. A significant 66% shared that pet care got them outdoors during work hours. For those who pet sit via TrustedHousesitters, 98% felt it uplifted their lifestyle, with 74% relishing the chance to explore new places.

Job Satisfaction
Animal companionship seems to be a balm for work-related stress, with 91% agreeing to its benefits. Additionally, 50% felt pets alleviated feelings of loneliness, and 27% found pets provided conversation starters with colleagues.

Productivity
Maintaining a routine is crucial in a remote setup. Here again, pets come to the rescue, with 44% of respondents stating their pets helped them stick to a daily routine.

However, these impacts aren’t all positive—22% of respondents found juggling pet care and work challenging.

For companies grappling with the challenge of keeping remote workers engaged and satisfied, these insights are invaluable. As the boundaries between work and home blur, perhaps the solution to a happier, more productive workforce lies not in more Zoom calls or productivity tools but in the wagging tails and purring companions by our side.