How to get sign off for your puppy therapy event

The Mental Health Benefits

With one in six people facing mental health issues in the workplace and 12 billion workdays lost annually due to these challenges, it's evident that greater awareness and early intervention for employee mental health are crucial. And that’s where we come in…

Our fully licensed puppy therapy events provide an opportunity for employees to step away from their desks, unwind, and spend 25 minutes with a litter of puppies in our summer garden setup. We believe that even on the busiest workdays, cuddling and playing with puppies is a perfect way to restore balance.

But don’t just take our word for it…

We recently conducted a survey to those who attended our puppy therapy sessions, and it’s clear that spending time with a litter of puppies even for just 25 minutes can greatly impact their mental health.

• 98% felt less stressed after having puppy therapy
• 99% said they were able to fully switch off and be present
  

Office Culture

It's widely known that companies are increasingly encouraging employees to return to the office either full-time or on a more frequent basis.

Just as everyone needed time to adapt to remote working, the idea of returning to the office five days a week might be challenging for many. Creating a welcoming office environment can ease this transition and encourage staff to return. Our puppy therapy events provide a fun and unique way to reintroduce employees to the office. Suddenly, staff are jumping out of bed and skipping to work when there are puppies to greet them…the hour and a half commute doesn’t seem too bad anymore!

We’ve seen first hand the buzz that a Paws in Work visit can make to an office environment. Staff not only get to engage with a litter of gorgeous puppies, but it also allows them to interact with those that they may not have engaged with before. Traditional workplace boundaries disappear as everyone sits on the floor in their socks, enjoying the session as equals.

• 93% said we had a positive increase in the office atmosphere
• 87% said it influenced why they came into the office
• 86% said they were able to spend time in session with people they wouldn’t normally engage with at work

Recruitment and Retention

Incorporating puppy therapy into the workplace can not only help with employee wellbeing, but it’s a secret weapon for recruitment and retention; 85% of people say they’re more likely to stay at a company that offers this staff benefit! Happier employees mean a more positive work environment.

We’re also seeing more companies using platforms such as TikTok and Linkedin to showcase their ‘work perks’, boosting their recruitment efforts and employer branding. It’s an irresistible incentive that sets companies apart in a crowded job market, making them more attractive to top talent and creating a workplace culture that people love to be a part of.

Posting puppy therapy content on your company's social media channels is a surefire way to catch people's attention, leaving them asking, "How do I get a job here?"

Which team is responsible for the budget?

It’s a great question, and one that varies from company to company. Some individual teams take charge whereas some cleverly combine their budgets as it’s a win-win for all.

Some companies have dedicated mental health and wellbeing teams, which is a great choice because the mental health benefits are undeniable. We see many companies host these events on special awareness days, like World Mental Health Day. It’s a perfect fit! HR/ People Team is also a great option as mentioned it’s a fantastic way to entice employees back to the office.

We also see a small number of companies use their marketing budget for a puppy therapy event in the office - it’s a great angle that can often be overlooked. Hosting Paws in Work is an amazing opportunity to showcase what you are doing for your team on your website or your socials - take it from us, puppy pictures are a great hit on Linkedin! We even offer photography packages where we deliver 200 professional images straight to a private company gallery, that you can use as you please! As well as a dedicated hashtag so you can see the buzz it creates amongst staff online.

Want to speak to our team and run through some of the above in detail? Schedule a call today.