Dog-friendly workplaces : what works, what does not, and what lessons have been learned

Warrilow, Eloise Claire (2024) Dog-friendly workplaces : what works, what does not, and what lessons have been learned. Doctoral thesis, Birkbeck, University of London.

Abstract

There has been an exponential growth in companion dog ownership in the UK, both at a societal level and within the working population. The recent global pandemic caused a seismic shift in how people live and work, acting as a catalyst for the adoption of new flexible working practices that employees are reluctant to give up, such as working alongside their pets. While some attention has been given to the pros and cons of dog-friendly workplaces, evidence has not kept pace with changes, despite numerous calls for more research. This thesis consists of two papers: a systematic literature review and an empirical study. The first study of this thesis is a systematic literature review of published research pertaining to the intersection of companion dogs and organisational life. The aim of this review is to understand the current state of research on the effects of companion dogs on employees and the workplace. No known systematic literature review has been conducted in this area, despite several calls for research, although various narrative reviews have reported on the phenomenon. A limited number of studies were found in this area, with only nine identified studies meeting the inclusion criteria. The findings indicate promising positive consequences for companion dog owners and, in some cases, their colleagues, in terms of well-being levels, work engagement, commitment, and quality of life. Additionally, there is evidence that pet-friendly practices can serve as a mechanism to signal organisational values and culture. However, further research is needed here, preferably using a longitudinal approach with objective measures to increase confidence in the findings. Methodological limitations and contextual factors, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, hindered the robustness and replicability of the research. Implications for practice are discussed alongside suggestions for future research. The second study of this thesis addresses some of the gaps identified in the systematic literature review and seeks to answer what works, what does not, and what lessons can be learned about pet-friendly offices in a post-pandemic context. A qualitative study was adopted, using semi-structured interviews with 14 participants who had worked in companion dog-friendly offices. Participants included dog owners, non-dog owners, and subject matter expert groups from targeted backgrounds. Reflexive thematic analysis yielded six themes: first, the psychosocial impact of dog presence; second, the need for organisational congruence, in terms of having a dog-friendly office status; third, power dynamics engendered by dog-friendly offices, highlighting the ethical need to identify and manage stakeholders impacted by the decision to become a dog-friendly office; fourth, presentation to the outside world, understanding that pet-friendly practices are a mechanism for communicating organisational values, person-environment fit and a readiness to support practices which support work adjustments; fifth, continuous responsibility, an antecedent for sustainable practices, considering both human and non-human agency; and sixth, forethoughts and expectations – recognising the importance of agreeing with and adhering to clear expectations and consequences, mitigating risks through careful planning with subject-matter experts and workforce representatives. This thesis advances understanding of what employees expect from their organisations in terms of flexible working and work-life integration, with a particular focus on the opportunities for working in the presence of companion dogs. Furthermore, it builds on previous work highlighting the need for more research into how those who have implemented pet-friendly practices have overcome perceived problems. It also addresses the call for guidance to be developed by multidisciplinary teams. The thesis provides several avenues for future research. It outlines a conceptual framework for decision-makers and encourages future researchers to test the model’s utility. It also lays the foundation for the development of a toolkit intended to assist decision-makers in determining the feasibility of becoming a companion dog-friendly office

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