Henry James credits his rescue dog Billie for helping him build valuable connections in the office.
Mr James believes that "dogs just have this wonderful way of breaking down barriers and helping you meet new people".
Early on in his role at Tasmanian insurance company RACT, Mr James was given the opportunity to bring Billie the kelpie to work, which saw him unexpectedly end up face-to-face with his new boss.
"[Billie's] on her back getting the biggest belly rub ever, and that was the moment that I first met the CEO and it was a wonderful moment," he said.
Billie's appearance at the Hobart workplace is due to its pet-friendly policy.
Who let the dogs in?
Mark Mugnaioni, chief executive officer at RACT, said his office was keen to get involved in "Furry Friday" after hearing about similar initiatives at other organisations.
"As an employer we're really focused on employee wellbeing and employee engagement, and we just thought this was a great thing to try and see how it went, and it went absolutely gangbusters," he said.
Mr Mugnaioni said the trial had expanded to five days a week to accommodate staff who were not in the office on Fridays.
Darryl White, RACT's senior manager of safety and wellbeing, said the company had safeguards to ensure each dog is well suited to the office.
He said the office operated a dog roster, using a shared calendar, to manage the number of dogs coming in on any given day.
An expansion of the program has helped meet the huge staff demand for the initiative, and ensure that "everyone plays nicely together".
At RACT, bringing a dog to work involves an initial discussion with team leaders and co-workers to check whether others were comfortable with having a dog around, and then filling out a questionnaire about the dog's behaviour towards people and other animals.
"Once that's all cleared, the dog gets a nice ID tag and can come into the office," Mr White said.
Push for more pet-friendly workplaces
Australia has one of the highest rates of pet ownership, yet only a fraction of the country's workplaces welcome furry friends, despite the documented benefits of doing so.
A 2018 study by the Human Animal Bond Research Institute found pet-friendly companies were more likely to attract, engage and retain employees, while a 2024 report from PetSure showed having pets in the office improves productivity, increases collaboration, and alleviated stress and anxiety.
National pet campaigner, Companion Animal Network Australia (CANA) has a Pets in Business program to get pets into more workplaces.
Its program aims to help employers create pet-friendly policies that meet the needs of their company, and provide a collection of free resources.
CANA's chief executive Trish Ennis said "creating a pet-friendly workplace involves carefully balancing the interests and rights of all employees, ensuring the welfare of the animals and managing the associated liability risks".
She said open communication was critical to introducing pets into a workplace, and was important to consider the feelings of coworkers who may suffer from allergies or otherwise feel uncomfortable.
"But nine [times] out of 10 you'll find that people do want a pet-friendly workplace."
Pets helping to build human connections
Many RACT employees say they have experienced a range of benefits by having dogs in the office.
Anita Williams said having her young cavoodle Burt at the call centre "certainly takes the stress away" and makes work more enjoyable for everyone.
"It's the best: the smiles, the cuddles, the licks, the pats. It's awesome."
Morghan Lawler said having her "best friend" by her side, labrador Stella, created a "calming" atmosphere.
For Christie Stone, having her kelpie Cocoa in the office has helped her with "building connections within the business".
"Often, people say I came in to see you but realistically they came in to see her," she said.
"I'm quite new to RACT as well, so it means I'm meeting people."
Snakes, spiders not so welcome at work
Unfortunately, not every pet is suitable for the workplace, nor is every workplace suitable for pets.
Ms Ennis said dogs were the most suitable pet to bring to work, and cats can also be appropriate depending on the environment, although it was best to avoid having both in a room together.
She cautioned against bringing pets such as snakes and spiders, as well as uncaged bunnies who can chew important electrical cords.
Regardless of the species, Ms Ennis said it was important every pet was well trained, sociable and non-disruptive.
She said workplaces with dangerous chemicals, commercial kitchens, or heavy machinery are sadly no-go zones for pets.
She said businesses must to be set up for pets and provide secure indoor areas, as well as have access to the outdoors for exercise and toileting needs.
"So really just making it friendly for everyone, comfortable for the pet and for the people."
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