| Britain's Dog Owners Choose Sick Pets Over Jobs |
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/ PRBuzz / April 15, 2011 -- We've all heard the saying 'man's best friend', it's in the dictionary in fact. Dogs are as much a part of our family nowadays than they've ever been. The pets of yesteryear provided certain functions as companions, such as sourcing food, whereas today, we just ask they're there for us as a companion to comfort us, keep us secure, bring a smile to our faces and simply just be. So how do we react when we think they may be falling ill? Job security and the comfort that comes from having a 9-5 may be an issue we're all too aware of these days but a recent survey carried out by Direct Line Pet Insurance and K9 Magazine discovered that over 81% of Britain's dog owners would risk this by calling in sick if they were worried their pet was falling ill however only 6% would tell their boss the real reason for their absence. A huge 94% of those surveyed felt more comfortable saying they were unwell themselves. The same pet lovers compared this to how they would react if they felt under the weather themselves and only 69% said they would call in sick if they themselves were feeling under the weather. Adam Whiteley, Head of Direct Line Pet Insurance, said: "Most people consider their pet to be part of the family, so it's no surprise that they would take a day off work to care for Fido or Fluffy, just as they would for a child. It's a well-known fact that pets improve the quality of life for their owners, and employees who know their pet is happy and healthy won't spend time worrying while they are at work." So what could be done to help prevent as many sick days being taken? Could Britain's employers take steps to becoming more pet friendly? Ryan O'Meara, publisher of K9 Magazine and new self-help book Clever Dog believes more can be done to follow in the footsteps of employers such as Google, known for their pet friendly policy. He says, "The benefits of a pet friendly office are known to those who have had the benefit to take advantage of them. Well behaved dogs are always welcome at our office, we even have a 'dog rota' so it can be planned in advance. A pet friendly policy can be great at bringing a new vibe to the office and can act as a great stress reliever. A short sharp burst of fresh air from a quick walk can also be great for freshening the mind." Top Tips for a Pet Friendly Office 1) Always have treats available, give them out to colleagues to have ready when needed. Bear in mind some people may not be used to being around dogs all the time, this obviously needs careful handling and a sensitive introduction to make sure everyone is as comfortable as possible. 2) Take your pet for a short walk every few hours to give them some fresh air, some mental stimulation and a burst of exercise. 3) Before introducing a full pet friendly policy, think about having a trial to see how it goes, lessons which could be learnt and how everyone felt when it was introduced. Create a rota and have a plan in place for the trial so it can be assessed how it can work for you long-term. 4) Most of all have fun with it! It can be a benefit to office atmospheres aswell as the pets themselves. read full article read full article
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