As pet-related benefits grow in demand, I’m called to help HR managers and others provide the best benefits for retaining and attracting talent
By Pam Foster, PetFriendlyOffice.com
With a 25-year career in the pet/veterinary industry as a marketing strategist, writer, and employee communications professional … I planned to keep on consulting and writing for clients.
But a snowy day in January 2025 changed all that.
My fiancé and I were on a mission to pick out hardwood flooring to replace our ancient carpeting. We made an appointment to visit a local wood-products company here in Maine. And on a snowy Friday morning, we arrived at the business office.
As we stepped inside, I immediately noticed water bowls, leash hooks, treats, and dog toys. I mentioned how dog-friendly the space was, and the business owner said, “We have our dogs here all the time. They’re our office mates.”
After our visit, I got back in the car and my brain just clicked.
I stared out the window thinking, “Pet-friendly workplaces are a very big deal!”
I’ve worked in pet-friendly offices (here's my doggy soulmate Louie when I worked in the offices at the NAVC).
And I’ve been following stories about the growing swell of companies offering a wide range of pet-related benefits. Everything from pet insurance and wellness plans to "paw-ternity" and pet bereavement leave. Just for starters.
I also know about the powerful bond between people and their beloved pets.
During the pandemic, when pet adoption soared, many employees got used to working at home with their pets nearby. Many of these workers resisted return-to-the-office as a result. Or they were at least looking for company benefits that support their furry family members; just like working parents look for family health plans and childcare support.
I get it! I've been a huge fan of animals my entire life. (Here I am as a kid, with one of the many kittens who lived at my dad's Maine farm.) My pets have been my family members, and my children's pets are my family, too.
Recent data shows that companies struggle with employee retention, stress reduction and burnout, attracting quality candidates, and staying competitive as a desirable work environment.
What’s an HR Manager to do?
Offer pet-related benefits.
In a PetPartners/Human Animal Bond Research Institute (HABRI) study of 1,021 HR professionals:
“82% of HR professionals believe that being or becoming pet friendly will help recruitment and retain best talent … and play a positive role in employee mental health.”
Aha! Plus, pet-friendly doesn’t just mean allowing pets in the office. That may or may not be possible for you. But you can choose from a wide range of pet-related benefits that wow employees and candidates.
But here’s a hurdle you’ve probably been facing. It’s likely that you’ve been looking for practical solutions that address the challenges of retention, burnout, and competition simultaneously through pet-friendly policies.
So I wondered, “Who are the experts helping employers figure out what’s best when it comes to offering pet-related employee benefits?
When I searched online for a central hub offering pet-related benefit information and templates with personal guidance as well, I couldn’t find one. OSHA doesn’t even have national standards related to animals in the workplace. Huh.
I realized there isn’t a single source offering practical tools, personal guidance, or concierge services for your pet workplace benefits. So I decided to become that resource for you.
That’s when I coined the phrase, Chief Pet-Friendly Officer, and established PetFriendlyOffice.com.
I haven’t seen that title anywhere else, and it fits!
What does this all have to do with you and you efforts to provide pet-related benefits?
As your Chief Pet-Friendly Officer, I can help you with templates, tools, and personal guide as needed.
I’ve spent months creating the ideal combination for you, offering:
- A free HR Survival Guide to Pet-Related Benefits; a great starting point for you to survey the landscape
- A Pet-Friendly Office DIY System with a ready-to-use policy template and 5 other tools
- Custom Concierge Services: my “done for you” approach where we discuss and pinpoint your perfect pet benefits plan, and then I help make it all happen
- Insights on Other Pet-Related Benefits
- Connections with industry experts in legal, space planning, and other considerations
- Employee communications and web content writing to help you attract exceptional candidates for open positions
- Success stories on how other companies have embraced pet-related benefits
- A free monthly POINTERS newsletter with the latest tips and news on what’s working
And I’m just getting started on this journey to help you!
So now, in addition to consulting and writing for pet and veterinary industry clients, I’m on a new mission to help guide HR professionals on pet-related benefits.
Perhaps you could use a Chief Pet-Friendly Officer?