At meinestadt.de, we put great emphasis on a pleasant and productive working atmosphere. A key part of this is our dog-friendly policy. Our commitment to diversity is not only reflected in our team, but also in our colleagues’ dogs. Just as every employee is unique, so is every dog – and it’s up to us to recognise and meet their needs.
The benefits of dogs in the workplace
Stress reduction and well-being
Studies have shown that the presence of dogs can reduce stress levels. The calming effect of pets promotes the general well-being of employees and creates a positive atmosphere in the office.
Promoting social interaction
Dogs often act as a social catalyst and promote interaction between colleagues. This is also the case with us: many of our employees from different teams organise joint dog-walks and share their pet stories with others. This strengthens team spirit and promotes harmonious interaction – even outside the teams. A short walk with the dog is also a welcome break that helps to clear the mind and increase concentration and productivity.
Flexibility and work-life balance
The option of bringing dogs into the office gives our employees the flexibility to achieve a better work-life balance. This is particularly valuable for pet owners who don’t want to leave their furry companions at home alone. In addition, dog owners in our company visit the office more often than if they were not allowed to bring their dog with them, which in turn increases social interaction and strengthens team spirit.
Growing together
Our pet-friendly policy makes the topic of dogs more present in the company and creates more understanding for colleagues with pets. For those who haven’t had pets before, this can be an enriching experience and may even lead them to look more closely at the idea of having their own pet.
Conclusion
We are convinced that dogs in the office not only make everyday working life more rewarding, but also offer numerous benefits for our team. At meinestadt.de, dogs are therefore not only welcome, they are an integral part of our organisational culture. We are delighted that our employees and their four-legged friends feel at home with us and thereby contribute to a positive and productive working environment. In short: At meinestadt.de we work with the woof effect.
First-hand experience: What our team says about office dogs
Selmin Ermis-Krohs: ‘When I decided to switch from being a freelancer back to being an employee, it was important to me that I would still have some of the freedoms I had as a freelancer with my new employer. This also meant that my dog could accompany me to the office at any time. I therefore deliberately only applied for jobs where this was stated. I think it’s great that meinestadt.de takes a well thought-out approach to the topic of dogs, with a fixed contact person who is also familiar with dogs herself. We have a calendar in which the dogs are entered so that we can also take each other and colleagues without dogs into consideration in case there are several dogs in the office. But my dog isn’t just ‘there’ in the office for 8 hours, I also want to make sure she feels comfortable. By working from home and on site, I can easily organise this flexibly for us and bring variety into everyday life with a dog.’
Nina Müller: ‘In my previous job, it was only possible to have a dog with dog-daycare because she was never allowed to go with me and had to stay at home alone a lot. It’s different at meinestadt.de. Our company emphasises the value of ‘together’ not only for us people but also for people and dogs. This is a wonderful feeling! The presence of my dog at work not only reduces my stress levels, but also creates a positive atmosphere.’
Andrea Strang: ‘It’s very important for me to be able to take my dog to the office with me and meinestadt.de has a well thought-out approach with a fixed contact person and a calendar in which you can enter when you are in the office with your dog. That way you know who is sitting where and when with which dog. That way, everyone can be considerate of each other. Lila is a dog from an animal shelter. She didn’t experience many good things from a very early age. She only has one eye and is a bit insecure, but always in a good mood and cheerful. She puts a smile on everyone’s face and spreads a good mood, which motivates me every day. Being able to take my dog into the office with me takes away the worry of having to leave her alone or with a dog sitter. She is with me and I can do my job in a motivated and relaxed way.’
Hanna Beerhenke: ‘As the mother of a young daughter, my day is already very tightly scheduled and organised in order to juggle all my responsibilities. The fact that I can take my dog into the office with me gives me the flexibility I need to be able to cope with everything and to change my plans whenever I need to. I also enjoy Taco’s company when it’s quieter in the office and there aren’t so many colleagues around. The little ‘play’ and ‘walk’ breaks that you can take with the other dog owners clear your head and I find them really valuable in everyday office life.’