Dogs in the Workplace: A Review of the Benefits and Potential Challenges

Anne M. Foreman, Margaret K. Glenn, B. Jean Meade and Oliver Wirth
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Anne M. Foreman: National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Morgantown, WV 26505, USA
Margaret K. Glenn: College of Education and Human Services, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26505, USA
B. Jean Meade: Davis College of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Design, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26505, USA
Oliver Wirth: National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Morgantown, WV 26505, USA

IJERPH, 2017, vol. 14, issue 5, 1-21

Abstract: Pet dogs, therapy dogs, and service dogs can be seen in workplaces with increasing frequency. Although dogs may provide many benefits to employees and employers, their presence may introduce additional hazards and concerns to the work environment. Therefore, decisions to accept dogs in the workplace may include many considerations including the health, safety, and well-being of employees, legal and cultural sensitivities, and animal welfare. The present paper serves to introduce the issue of dogs in the workplace and outline the potential benefits and challenges to their presence. The legal accommodations afforded to certain types of dogs in workplace settings are discussed, and the research findings pertaining to the potential benefits of dogs on human health and well-being are summarized. The paper concludes with considerations for human resource management personnel in the areas of diversity, employee relations, ethics and corporate responsibility, organizational and employee development, safety and security, and legal considerations, as well as suggested topics for future research.

Keywords: animal-assisted activities; animal-assisted interventions; pet effect; mental health (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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