The business world is familiar with the concept of ’flexible benefits’ and rewarding employees with more than just pay and holidays.

Benefits that encourage a healthy lifestyle are particular popular - free fruit in the staff room, for example, alongside discounted gym membership and cycle-to-work schemes.

But a new wellbeing initiative is becoming more and more popular with UK businesses - namely the creation of pet-friendly offices.

Dogs are the pet of choice, and pre-lockdown one in five Brits were able to bring their canine companions into their offices.

In a post-lockdown world the demand for dog friendly employment will be even greater, given it’s estimated that 3.2 million UK households have bought or adopted new pets during the pandemic.

The number of people working from home has played its part in this surge in pet popularity, as has the need to have a four-legged friend for companionship to compensate for the lack of social interaction permitted during lockdown periods.

Whilst the Isle of Man has not endured such protracted lockdown periods, it has seen an increase in pet ownership, as evidenced by the fact that we have waiting lists for dogs, cats and rabbits.

So, why should an employer create a pet friendly office environment?

The Isle of Man has a tight labour market in certain professions, such as IT, and so creative employment benefits such as a pet friendly office environment could be the best way to attract and retain talented employees.

There are other benefits too.

Pets reduce levels of stress and anxiety, and are a practical and economic way for an employer to address mental health and wellbeing issues.

Pets also encourage employees to be more sociable, and to engage with each other more frequently, across different teams and departments. Dog owners, in particular, need to take their pooches for a walk at lunchtime and this break from work helps to increase productivity in the afternoon.

But an employer also needs to be mindful of some practical considerations, and address health and safety issues.

First and foremost employees should be consulted about their views on a pet friendly office, and their concerns addressed.

It is highly likely that a number of them will have allergies relating to pet hair, and some may have phobias about certain animals, and so the space requirements for creating a pet friendly office must be considered.

There should be designated pet areas, and the opportunity for some employees to stay away from pets if they wish.

Dogs, in particular, must be ’office trained’ and understand that coming into a work environment isn’t an opportunity for endless play. Dog owners can train their dogs to behave correctly by creating a study or work space at home, and rewarding their dog when he or she lies quietly either under the table or by the side of the chair.

The dog must also be able to cope with being left for periods of time to allow their owners to go for comfort breaks or to meetings. And, of course, they must be well socialised and enjoy the company of other dogs and people.

For more information and a helpful guide to creating a pet-friendly office, you can download a toolkit from www.purina/co.uk.

We had four of our rescue dogs formally adopted last week, including Max and Woodie who are ideal candidates for ’office dogs’ - people pleasers who can bring a smile to anyone’s face with their funny antics.

They also remind us that second-hand animals make first-class pets.