Stress can be a silent killer in your workplace, not to mention its role in increasing conflict. It is rare to find a workplace without problems. Since miscommunication between workers can happen, they can share different points of view or have different interests.
Stress syndromes span from psychological and physical symptoms. Ranging from depression, anxiety, diabetes and high blood pressure to daily headaches, back pain, insomnia, chest pain and stomach aches.
Companies are recently driven towards attempting to relieve some of the tensions suffered by employees, by engaging them in different activities and coaching sessions. Coaches advise people to destress during busy working days with to-do lists, being organized, taking cat naps, eating healthy and many other tips that sometimes work and other times don’t.
However, a new approach to test the effect of using pets in relieving stress at the workplace has been tested by Sherif El Hayawan, Co-Founder and CEO at Egyptian Veterinary Association for Continuing Education.
Via international.vet.hospital Instagram page
Using puppies to reenergize employees’ moods, El-Hayawan visited several companies under the slogan #AntiStressDay to implement his idea. He used puppies at the workplace, for employees to play with and enjoy their company throughout the day. He explained that puppies were specifically chosen because those who have a fear of dogs can get over it, since puppies are smaller and create less fear.
The benefits of puppies at the workplace go far beyond just reducing stress. Increasing work productivity and enhancing communication between employees were the main findings of the experience, El-Hayawan explained. Playing with puppies significantly contributed to bond employees together and consequently sparked the chance to work as a team.
Little things like bringing puppies to the workplace prove to employees the organizational support that leaderships project to their workers increasing commitment, reducing turnover rates and increasing employee satisfaction.
Via international.vet.hospital Instagram page
After the success that proves the power of puppies, El Hayawan expressed his disappointment about how people devalue animals in Egypt, either pet owners or animals on the street.
In the next period, El Hayawan is willing to approach more companies especially during peak seasons – where employees are more stressed – in an effort to increase companies’ awareness about the influence puppies have on employees at work.
