Benefits of Dogs in the Workplace

Not all companies are created equal when it comes to the acceptance of dogs in the workplace. Some readily welcome your best friend while others have not yet realized the benefits of allowing dogs. The majority of companies that allow dogs are small start-up companies who realize the need for a flexible work environment or large high tech firms that allow dogs in order to capture the interest of a prospective employee or to retain their current employees.

Benefits of Dogs in the Workplace

Facts from the American Humane Association

- Staff morale and worker productivity increased by bringing pets to work
- Increased camaraderie among employees
- Happier employees result in enhanced job performance
- Increase in sales reported by store owners who take their dogs to work
- Dogs can serve as a crime deterrent

“There’s something about pets that really brings people together”
Carol Moulton, Director, American Humane Society

Facts from the American Pet Products Manufacturers Association

This Connecticut-based national trade group surveyed 50 small and large companies across the U.S. that allow pets in the workplace. They surveyed law firms, Internet sales companies and retail shops and the results showed that those with pets had lower absenteeism rates and employees who were more willing to work overtime.

Additional comments from pet-friendly employers

“One of the many things that makes Ninth House Network unique is the presence of all these cute, four-legged, furry critters. Having dogs around certainly decreases the stress level. Just make sure you don’t leave your lunch on your desk unattended.”
Ninth House Network, San Francisco, CA

“Employees can bring their dogs to work everyday. Almost everyone enjoys having dogs around during the day and it helps to break up the stress at times. Autodesk has been allowing dogs to come to work for approximately the past ten years.”
Autodesk, San Rafael, CA

“Being able to bring my dogs to work is the only reason I don’t mind working crazy hours and overtime – if they are in the office with me, I’m not in a hurry to go home and take them on a walk.”
Dog owner at the American Hiking Society, Silver Spring, MD

“The company has been dog friendly since the company’s inception. We are actually in our second generation of dogs here at Wildfire.”
Dog owner at Wildfire Communications, Lexington, MA

“This firm has been dog-friendly since 1985 and boasts a “cleanliness” rating of Superior (the highest) from both the FDA and the Retail Bakers of America.”
Century Box, Methuen, MA

“The owner, Bob Page, has been bringing his two dachshunds to work everyday for years and encourages his 560 employees to do the same.”
Replacements Ltd., Greensboro, NC

“I allow my employees to bring their pets to work. I can’t leave home without my two miniature dachshunds, and I wouldn’t expect my co-workers to leave their beloved pets at home either. Pet-friendly will always be our policy. We and our pets are healthier and happier for it!”
Honeybee Gardens, Morgantown, PA

“We encourage employees to bring in their pooches – and more than half the staff of 40 does. There are rubber squeak toys, doggie beds and water bowls in the cubicles. Some office chairs have leashes attached. But the dogs (of all sizes) roam free in the office or out back in their ‘exercise area’.”
Talking Dog Media, Bellevue, WA

Are you Green?

How are you an Everyday Environmentalist? It’s not so simple anymore. Being an environmentalist today calls for a whole new level of greener thinking — from what you choose at the grocery store to how you commute to work every day. Help us celebrate Earth Day by posting your Eco Friendly ideas.

The Tax Stimulus Package: Good For Business?

This past Wednesday President Bush signed into law the much-debated $168 billion Economic Stimulus Act of 2008. While the main thrust of the package provides rebate checks to individuals and couples, it also includes a series of provisions intended to boost business spending. The bill allows companies to depreciate 50% of the cost of an asset purchased in 2008. It also nearly doubles the Section 179 deduction that lets small businesses expense equipment instead of depreciate it over time. The limit for this deduction increased to $250,000 from $128,000 with up to $800,000 in qualifying equipment purchases, also up from $500,000.

Critics of the bill are worried that individuals and businesses won’t spend the rebate money or make additional purchases, which is the intent of the bill. Jane Kanoy, president of Cousin’s Advertising Inc. (asi/169465) in Thomasville, NC, has mixed feelings about the package. The depreciation increase will help with the new phone system and computer she is planning on purchasing, but the package won’t encourage her to make any additional purchases this year. “In the long run, it will put more money in the purchase stream because the money I save on taxes I’ll put back into my business,” she says. “But I’m not going to start buying more things because of it. I think that would be foolish in the kind of economy that we are living in today.”

Michael Hicks, president of Forney, TX-based Best Promotions USA LLC (asi/40344), formed the company back in June and is still in the process of building up the business. He calls the package’s benefits a very welcome surprise. “It’s not going to affect my decision at all this year because I am ramping up,” he says. “But the package is going to save us some money. That’s no question. When it comes the end of the year, it will be a somewhat significant tax savings for us. That money will go right back into our working capital and allow us to grow even more. So it’s definitely a good thing.”

Corporate Expressions wants to know what you think and welcome your opinions so post your comments.

Importance of Branding and Promoting Your Business

Giving away promotional gifts is a branding strategy that has been around a long time. That is because it can be very effective.

Promotional products are a dynamic medium with more exposure per dollar spent than any other advertising method.

What kinds of promotional gifts have you given away? What methods did you use to distribute them? How effective do you think they were?

Promotion Items to Use and Distribute for Your Business

The most effective kinds of promotional items are ones that could be used frequently by the person who receives them. This is why pens are one of the most popular objects for this type of marketing strategy. Some people lose pens all the time and won’t be affected by your branding as much, but then there are people who use the same pen for months or years until the ink runs out and lost pens tend to be found by others too.

You can really use just about anything to stamp your brand on and give out to people. Being creative is the fun part, and being unique in this regard may make people remember you better.

The key to the success of a promotional gift is finding the right balance of potential use-frequency (something that will be seen a lot – free advertising) and creativity (unique items that tend to stand out more than ink pens).

If you’ve ever gone to a business conference of any kind, you have likely been given or at least seen company-branded novelty items. Conferences are a great place to hand out your promotional gifts, because they will be targeted at people in your niche.

If you own a store, hand out your gifts to customers as they check out, or have an area at the front where they can grab them. Maybe you don’t want to make them purchase something first. The whole point is to advertise your business.

For more information on what promotional items would best fit your business, please contact us.