Say Hello to our Chief Happiness Officers!

We are paw-somely excited to highlight our four-legged team members: The Chief Happiness Officers or CHOs! Our office dogs are a big part of our team members’ work lives, and we are proud of the work they do. We’ve already seen a lot of positive changes since these furry balls of joy started coming into work. Every morning, we’re guaranteed to be greeted with a big slobbery smile.

Sometimes it might be tough getting to the desk, but one of our Happiness Officers is happy to guide the way. While having dogs in the office may make one worry about hair being everywhere, our CHOs are already being mindful to keep the office clean by eating all the crumbs off the floor.

Meet our Team

Max Grear is always excited to meet new people and greet his office friends. Every time the doorbell rings, he will be right at the top of the stairs wagging his tail, ready to welcome you into our space.

Joey Feinstein is a very talented dog. He has already learned how to answer the phone, take messages, and even make coffee.

Benny Wasik is a great stress reliever, and his wagging tail and slobbery kisses always make us smile. He’ll be sure to warm your heart.

Fiona Bennett is a great listener, so if you ever need to vent about something, she’s always there to lend a sympathetic ear. She even sticks around for all your office rambles!

Abbey Hunt-Odom is a real go-getter, and she’s always up for a challenge. She’s also very good at following directions, so she’s a great help with tasks like fetching things for you. She even does tricks for treats!

Chewie Pantaleo is a very friendly and outgoing dog who has already made friends with everyone in the office. He loves to follow people around and receive pets, and he is always up for a game of tug-of-war.

Create Your Own Happiness Committee

If you’re looking to create a Happiness Committee of your own, here are a few tips on how to add them to the workplace:

Start with one officer.

• Don’t overwhelm your office with a bunch of CHOs right away. Start with one or two and see how it goes. If it’s a success, you can always hire more later. And, if there is more than one at a time, make sure ahead of time that they both are friendly towards each other.

Choose the right employee.

• Some CHOs are better suited for the workplace than others. Choose one that is friendly, well-behaved, and doesn’t bark too much.

Make sure your CHO has the proper training credentials.

• Even the best-behaved officers need some training before they’re ready for the workplace. Make sure yours knows basic commands like sit, stay, and come.

Get them acclimated to the office space.

• A new space can be overwhelming, so bring your pup in on a day where there are only a few people around, or even on a weekend, so they can get all their sniffs out and get the lay of the land.

Set some ground rules.

• Make sure you set some ground rules. For example, you might want to designate a specific area for your CHO to stay, or you might want to restrict them from certain areas like the lab or the break room. Decide if you are comfortable with them roaming around while you’re in a meeting or if it’s better for them to stay in your office or under a cubicle with you at all times.

Treat Guidance.

• Make sure your co-workers know not to feed your pup their own lunch. Not everyone is aware that common foods – like avocado and tomatoes – are toxic to dogs.  If they do want to give the CHO a treat, recommend some dog-friendly options (and quantities!).

Be prepared for accidents.

• Even the most well-behaved CHOs can have accidents. Be prepared to clean up any messes that your dog makes… like keeping a bottle of carpet cleaner at your desk, seriously!

Be patient.

• It may take some time for your new team member to adjust to the new environment. Be patient and understanding as they learn the ropes.

Schedule breaks.

• Make sure you block off some time on your schedule for outside breaks so that you’re not running outside in the middle of a video conference call because your pup has to go!

Have fun!

• Having a CHO in the workplace can be a lot of fun. Enjoy the experience and watch your office morale soar!

The Benefits of a Dog-Friendly Office

While there isn’t much conclusive evidence about the effects dogs have on performance in the workplace, studies suggest that there are far more positives to employee satisfaction with a dog present in the office than without.

Sometimes social interactions can be difficult to initiate in the workplace, but pets are closing the gap between coworkers as they offer a great conversation starter. Studies have shown that people and places are happier and more relaxed when dogs are present. This is because dogs can provide companionship, reduce stress, and increase feelings of well-being.

Overall, pet-friendly policies can be a win-win for both employees and employers. They can help to create a more positive and productive work environment, while also attracting and retaining top talent — and the members of our firm are certainly just that.

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