Pets with Benefits!

With project deadlines, budget cuts, and poor job performances, it is no wonder many people consider the workplace to be a stressful environment. But have no fear, your best friend is here! Published in the International Journal of Workplace Health Management, a preliminary study conducted by Randolph Barker (yes that last name is for real) found that dog owners who took their pets to work had the lowest stress level compared to employees who did not take their dogs to work and those who did not own any pets. Interestingly, dog owners who did not take their pets to work had stress levels that were more than twice as high as the dog owners who took their pets to work. Barker suggests that having pets at the workplace could help buffer stressful situations by helping the pet owner cope more efficiently with negative outcomes.