When Amazon Inc. employees in Toronto and Vancouver head to the office, they’ll be able to bring their fur babies with them.
The technology company’s ‘Dogs at Work’ program provides dog owners and their four-legged friends with special perks, including a welcome package, designated spaces for their dogs to play, dog-friendly events, discounted pet insurance and free dog treats. There are currently 10,000 dogs worldwide registered in the program.
Amazon recognizes that a positive workplace culture helps with employee mental health, says Michael Weeks, the company’s senior human resources leader in Canada. The shift to remote working amid the coronavirus pandemic was a significant change and returning to the office will also be an adjustment, he says, adding Amazon is engaging employees to find out which approach works best for them.
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Employees are trying to wrap their heads around how returning to the worksite will impact their family needs, says Weeks, and providing flexibility is a way to manage that change and ease their worries. The ‘Dogs at Work’ program is just one of the many tools the organization is using to help ease people back into the workplace, he adds.
“We’ll continue to look for opportunities to help ease the transition back because we see it as vital to our business.”
To ensure offices are set up for multiple pooches to hang out daily, Amazon has added designated spaces for dogs, such as relief areas and puppy parking stations where employees can leave their pets before entering areas that aren’t dog friendly, such as restrooms. The organization’s new office in Vancouver also has a rooftop terrace that includes dog runs and play parks.
Read: Half of dog owners would leave employer for more pet-friendly company: survey