Pets finding a home in the workplace

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 04/06/2022 (1361 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The death of beloved team member Scott Phinney in July 2019 left a gaping hole in the hearts of staff at CW2 Construction and Design.

Although Phinney, who loved cats, could never be replaced, the team decided to adopt a furry friend to fill some of the void.

The following September, the business welcomed Phinn.

“I sent Becky [Farguson] to the pound to pick a deserving cat and we found Phinn and this has been his home ever since,” chief operating officer Tanya LaBuick said. “We named him after Phinney to honour him.”

Phinn was barely alive when he was brought to the shelter. He weighed only four pounds and was slated to be euthanized due to his poor health, but they took him in and nursed him back to health.

Phinn became a focal point for good energy after the loss of his namesake. Despite his tragic beginning, he has grown into a relaxed and playful cat.

Every morning during the weekly safety meetings, he is front-and-centre, curled up in a T-shirt, sometimes on the meeting table, as the team discusses business.

Most days Phinn splits his time between snoozing, playing with treat-filled toys and greeting customers.

“We have customers who insist they want to come in to pay their bills rather than the mail or electronically because they want to see Phinn,” she said. “Even the mail people come in and ask ‘where’s Phinn?’ He’s become ‘the guy.’”

His fame has even spilled over onto social media, becoming the face of the company on Twitter, dispensing wisdom and sharing the thoughts of staff.

Having a full-time pet in the office has led to some in-house adventures. Farguson, who is the designated “head spoiler,” recalled one time when Phinn found himself stuck in a supply closet with a bag of his dry food. He spent the night chowing down, only to be found the next morning well-fed and the closet needing cleaning after a night of feasting and no litter box.

Food is his greatest motivator. A simple shake from a bag of treats at the front desk and a muffled thud can be heard from upstairs, signalling Phinn is awake and coming for some snacks.

Phinn does get to go outside when he wants to, sometimes bringing back hunting trophies.

“He will bring in mice from the fields and occasionally they will still be alive and we have to chase it down,” Farguson said. “There was one time when a customer pointed out a foot on the corner by the stairs to the upstairs offices.”

While the firm is his home, there are days, such as extended holiday closures, where he must go home with someone. That duty falls to Travis Chastko.

Making the post-pandemic workspace comfortable has taken on new importance as people adjust to hybrid in-office and work-from-home models. That includes allowing pets to visit, either on occasion or as full-time “morale officers” to give people a break from stressful days.

In some industries, it isn’t unusual to see animals, such as counselling, veterinary or agricultural businesses, but they have shown they can be a vital part of the business day in many more areas.

At Donald and Kehler Law Office, at least twice a week a pair of Bernese mountain dogs roam the halls and offices. Maude is 10 years old and a social butterfly while Fern, an outgoing but slightly skittish two-year-old is still getting used to being in a busy office, said owner Rhea Majewski, a barrister, solicitor and notary at the law office. Both dogs split their time either napping and visiting staff and greeting clients.

Maude had been coming to the office only periodically before the pandemic because Majewski would have to go to court. Office visits started when Majewski’s house was under renovation and she asked if she could bring the dogs to work.

Then when COVID shutdowns happened, Majewski brought Maude to the office regularly because she wasn’t going to court. She has become used to the office as a second home so she is in daily. Fern, however, only comes in twice a week because she is still adjusting due to spending most of the first two years of her life at home and in the office when clients weren’t coming in. She relies on Maude to reassure her if a person or situation is OK and Majewski has to watch over her in case she gets too excited.

The staff have come to expect Maude and Fern, even when Majewski isn’t there.

“The other day I had to go to court for a client and hearing, and the staff were asking where Maude and Fern were, but she doesn’t come in when I’m not here and they weren’t happy,” she said jokingly. “Whenever I take a vacation, they are like ‘where are the dogs?’”

The dogs are a calming presence around the office. Majewski said she finds people are more relaxed when Maude is in their presence. If she is working on a high-stress file or in litigation, she finds petting Maude calms her down. Maude is a very social dog, so having her at home for hours on end without people around causes her stress.

“If they’ve had a stressful phone call or file, they will often come in and see the dogs and that chills them out,” she said.

There has been at least one occasion where the dogs helped a client through legal proceedings.

“We had one man going through a virtual civil trial and he asked if he could pet the dog during that and I thought it would help,” she said. “The judge couldn’t see this and it helped keep my client calm during proceedings. It’s hard to be apprehensive when a dog is giving you a snuggle.”

Pets in the workplace can be good for morale and fit into a more traditional therapeutic role if they have the right personality.

Ashley Collier said she has always loved animals and has seen their effects on people reluctant to talk firsthand. While working at a law office as a receptionist, she met a client who didn’t speak much. They had a dog in the office at the time and in short order, the client was petting the dog and talking about how much he loved dogs and eventually shared his life story.

Collier earned a master’s degree in counselling in 2018 and eventually opened Wildflower Counselling in Brandon, where she introduced her canine partner, a flat-coated retriever named Juniper, with whom she is working to incorprate pet therapy into her service.

“The night I finished my very last course, a message popped up from Funds for Furry Friends, who I volunteer with, and they had a one-year-old retriever-cross named Juniper,” she said. “I said to my partner, ‘Do you think this is fate?’ Two days later, she came home with us.”

She had already been doing some therapy-type work and the foster family caring for her said she would make a great therapy dog.

Describing her as a gentle dog, Collier said she’s been a great family pet. Her family calls her a shadow, because she is always following Collier around.

Juniper only comes to Wildflower Counselling as Collier’s other workplace doesn’t allow for dogs. However, she was acquired to be at Wildflower as a therapy dog and her work companion. Collier said Juniper’s role so far is informal, greeting people at the door and keeping her company in the office.

Collier and Juniper are receiving training through a group in Edmonton called Dreamcatcher. Juniper will likely have to be tested by the group to ensure she passes their courses before being able to work in a counselling setting.

Juniper’s role will be optional for clients. She will provide comfort to clients during sessions, as well as incorporate animal-human interaction into the conversation. For example, if Juniper were to get up on the couch and lay next to the person, Collier may ask how that makes them feel. If it is comfort, they may talk about where else could they get comfort like that in their life.

However, there isn’t any formal certification at the federal or provincial level, Collier said. There are recognized groups like St. John Ambulance that offer training for therapy dogs visiting places such as hospitals or working in public spaces, but there is no regulated process to become a therapy dog or handler. The Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association has a membership for animal-assisted therapy counsellors in Canada, though, so the benefits are recognized in the industry.

Collier said she hopes someday there will be some kind of formal certification for animal-assisted therapy because she has witnessed the calming abilities. As a volunteer with Funds for Furry Friends, they would bring foster dogs to Brandon University during exam times to give students some relief from the stress of writing their final tests.

Having pets in the workplace isn’t new, but it is gaining in popularity. The pandemic motivated people to adopt and purchase pets for companionship.

According to a 2021 pet population survey from the Canadian Animal Health Institute, 58 per cent of Canadian households reported having at least one dog or cat, with a total of 7.7 million dogs and 8.1 million cats. The survey also noted respondents said the special relationship between people and their pets as it kept them healthy, active and improved quality of life and mental health.

However, there are still several legal and financial considerations when a business considers opening its doors to furry friends. There are legal accommodations for service animals, but allowing a pet has its own set of challenges.

A recent study published by the National Library of Medicine titled “Dogs in the Workplace: A Review of the Benefits and Potential Challenges” points out while pets do provide stress reduction and companionship, several aspects need to be considered, such as bites, falls, phobias and allergies.

Not taking those things into consideration could have severe consequences for a business and the pet’s owner. Not accommodating someone who is allergic or afraid of an animal could run the risk of a human rights violation.

There are ways to address these challenges and protect a business, staff and clients.

It is unknown how many workplaces allow pets in Canada, but more people are bringing their pets to work or seeking out workplaces that allow animals in the workplace, according to an article by Chartered Professional Accountants. Several variables should be taken into account before going ahead with a pet-friendly environment, such as speaking to a building’s landlord to make sure the lease allows for pets.

Considering sensitivities such as allergies and phobias must be considered, the article stated. Legally that person must be accommodated, but workarounds could be discussed, such as proximity and times of day. A plan should be drawn up as well and should include how many pets are allowed and what kinds of pets, such as dogs, cats, fish, even birds and other species. Once a plan is decided, put it in writing and it must include responsibility in case of injury or damage.

Employers should also be upfront with new hires if there is a pet-friendly policy. Dong this will reduce the risk of this being an issue in the future and may help someone determine if this workplace is a good fit for them.

Majewski and LaBuick said allergies have been the main concern regarding pets at the office, but they are upfront with clients and new staff about their pet policy. Majewski said there was one incident where a client refused to come into the office because of the dogs and they had to accommodate by having them sign their paperwork outside. As well, both said they have discussed personal responsibility over any risks with staff.

For LaBuick, Collier and Majewski, having pets in the workplace has been a great success with no regrets.

Labuick said her business is even considering adopting another office cat.

“I think Phinn could use a friend and we would love another cat here.”

» kmckinley@brandonsun.com

» Twitter: @karenleighmcki1