Pet-Friendly Company Culture
Company culture is important to consider when choosing where to spend a forty-hour workweek. The culture at Submaterial prioritizes people and aims for a good life/work balance. We offer all employees full health coverage, PTO and sick time, and, where possible, flexible scheduling. There are also some "fringe" benefits, including coffee and snacks (we take snacks VERY seriously here), mileage reimbursement for biking to work, and more.
One of these fringe benefits is the ability to bring pets to the studio regularly. People are often concerned about leaving a pet at home for extended hours or not wanting to adopt a new pet because of their schedule. With the freedom to bring them to work, many employees with pets take advantage of this opportunity, and others have felt the freedom to get a pet since being employed here. Pets in the workplace are great (our Instagram stories are a testament to that), but they also provide many health benefits.
Decreased Stress and Improved Mental Health
In addition to the apparent benefits for the dogs and cats (socialization with humans and learning to interact with other animals), having pets at work is also valuable for humans. According to Harvard Medical School, those with dogs tend to have lower blood pressure than those who do not. Multiple studies show that just the act of petting a dog lowers blood pressure. Being around dogs throughout the day can help minimize the potential increase in stress and anxiety levels. Positive interactions with pets can trigger the release of oxytocin and endorphins in humans, while stress hormones like cortisol decrease.
In particular, for people who experience mental health challenges, The Human Animal Bond Research Institute says, " Pets offer emotional and social support, helping them develop a sense of security, routine, and stability in times of need."
Pets in the Workplace Help with Positive Interactions
According to the US National Library of Medicine, positive interactions with our pets will influence how we treat one another. Having pets in the office can help break down formal barriers between colleagues and encourage employees to naturally begin to interact with others, providing an easy and built-in conversation starter. These interactions boast camaraderie and collaboration. And importantly, our moods are known to feed off the energy around us, and we definitely feel the difference of having our happy-go-lucky pets in the studio!
Benefits to Human (and Pet!) Physical Health
Like most people, finding time to get outdoors during the week can be challenging. Our bodies benefit from natural light and small amounts of direct sunlight each day, which we’re more likely to get if we take our dogs outside. Between taking them outside to relieve themselves and going for walks, we are more likely to hit the recommended 10 to 30 minutes of sun exposure daily. The Cleveland Clinic says adequate Vitamin D is associated with strong bones, cardiovascular health, a stronger immune system, better moods, and more efficient sleep cycles.
Getting out to walk our dogs during the day gets desk-bound employees standing and moving, and fabrication staff moving in different ways than production requires. What dog doesn't want to go out on a walk?!
Plus, studies show that "pet owners exhibit decreased blood pressure, cholesterol, and triglyceride levels — all of which can ultimately minimize their risk for having a heart attack down the road.”
The Long and Short of It
Although there are many practical reasons to have pets in the workplace, the real reason we encourage pets in the workplace is that we love them. They bring joy and playfulness to our team, and we’d want them with us even without the proven health benefits.
