London - Working like a dog? It seems there is a solution.
Research shows taking your pet to the office can ease the stress of the working day. A study found those who took their dog to work became more relaxed as the day wore on.
In contrast, stress levels rose in those who either did not own a dog or chose to leave their pet at home.
The US study said having a pet nearby could act as a buffer against the pressures of working life.
The research focused on a company in North Carolina which allows employees to take their dogs into the office. It compared people who brought in a pet with those who had one but left them at home. A third group did not own dogs.
The 75 employees gauged how stressed they felt during the day and answered questions about job satisfaction.
On arrival at work, there was little or no difference between the groups. But over the course of the day, those with their dogs at their sides became considerably more relaxed.
However, those with a dog that had been left at home began to feel the pressure. By the time they left the office, they were almost twice as stressed as on arrival, the International Journal of Workplace Health Management reports.
Professor Randolph Barker, of Virginia Commonwealth University, said this may “reflect an increase in concern about pets at home as time away increases, missing pets more as the day progresses or lessening of a possible stress buffering effect of pets as the length of time away from pets increases”. - Daily Mail