Today, the workforce dynamics are changing rapidly as more workers seek remote jobs. One of the reasons for this change is that remote jobs are flexible, allowing workers to spend time with loved ones, including their pets. So, if you want to work remotely, exploring a top-rated platform like Jooble is a great place to start searching for jobs, as it lists several remote jobs in diverse industries.
Working remotely is great, particularly regarding its pet laws. Unlike in a physical office, pets may or may not be allowed, but in a remote setting, you can keep pets. But note that pets may positively or negatively affect your coworkers in a remote setting. So, join us as we discuss these effects and some considerations.
The Positive Influence of Pets in Remote Work for Coworkers
If you’re working remotely, owning a pet can be greatly beneficial. Your pet can serve as a medium to boost your mood after a long day. But aside from the influence owning a pet can have on you, your coworkers also stand to gain from your pet.
Below are some positive ways pets can influence coworkers in a remote working environment.
- Decreases Stress Level
Working virtually doesn’t exactly mean reduced work pressure. On the contrary, a survey suggests that most remote workers deal with more work-related pressure. As a result, this can lead to increased stress levels for workers.
However, a pet can serve as an icebreaker putting a smile on coworkers’ faces. Playing with your pet can lighten the mood despite high tensions to deliver a project, which will ultimately boost everyone’s productivity.
- Encourages Work-Life Balance
Most organizations encourage their employees to have a balanced work-life. But the line between work and life can get blurred when working remotely, as the urge to meet deadlines and targets pushes many workers to put in more working hours.
Owning a pet, taking care of it, and merely having a great time with it can help your coworkers want to mirror it. As such, the way you relate with your pet can be an eye-opener for some of your coworkers to encourage them to balance their work life.
- Promotes Mental Health
The mental health and well-being of your coworkers and yourself are vital if you want to make any progress in the organization. Working remotely makes it easy to work longer hours and take fewer breaks since there are fewer distractions from typical coworkers’ interactions. But having a pet can keep your mental health in check. Those few moments you spend off your desk tending to your pet allow you to shrug off loneliness, depression, and anxiety. Your contributions will be more valuable when you’re in a better mental state.
- Builds Team Dynamics and Bonding
The secret to the success of any team is good relationships. One way to foster a good relationship with coworkers is by sharing good stories. And a great story that always seems to hit the right spot almost every time is an anecdote about pets.
Most pets are social animals, often seeking the attention of their owners. So, for example, having a video call with a team and having a pet playing in the background can spark conversation and even, in some cases, foster connections. Such a bond between coworkers is great, particularly in a remote working environment, as it helps the team’s dynamics.
- Boosts Creativity
Every organization needs a creative mind. However, even the sharpest mind occasionally experiences blocks (moments with little to no creative ideas). In situations like this, having a pet can be greatly beneficial. Interacting with the pet can help inspire creative thoughts, as the change of scenery can be a source of inspiration.
The Challenges and Consideration of Pets for Coworkers in Remote Work
While having a pet comes with many benefits, there are also drawbacks. Below we will elaborate on these challenges and how they affect your coworkers’ dynamic.
- Distractions during Work Hours
One of the common complaints many coworkers have with pet owners working remotely is distractions. Pets are cute and can cause a team to deviate from the discussion easily. As such, it can lead to wasted hours that could have been used for something more productive. Particularly when having a video meeting with coworkers, having a pet walking around in the background can be distracting.
- Noise Disruptions
Another challenge coworkers may have with you having a pet is if it makes a lot of disruptive noise during crucial meetings. This challenge is exceptionally true if you have a pet that makes a loud noise, like a dog. Even if you cage the dog in the next room, a dog’s bark can be loud enough to disrupt a meeting. In such a case, you can consider hiring a dog walker to take the dog out for work during important meetings. Or better still, you can consider retraining your dog to be well-behaved.
- Responsibility and Care Demands
Having a pet requires you to be responsible for and care for it. This responsibility can be a burden taking a wholesome amount of your time. If you have to occasionally leave your workstation unattended to attend to your pet, it will affect your productivity, which will also be detrimental to your coworkers.
- Work-Life Boundary Blur
Also, it’s very easy for things to get complicated when you have a pet and working remotely. Many remote workers often make the mistake of mixing work and pleasure, which can be detrimental to their productivity. It’s best to delegate tasks and allocate your time properly to avoid making such mistakes. This way, you can maximize your resources and get the best work-life balance.
Conclusion
Having a pet as a remote worker can be the key to having the most productive and peaceful environment yet. But don’t shy away from the challenges having a pet can pose to your coworker. When weighing the ups and downs of having a pet, always ensure the benefits to you and your coworkers outweigh the drawbacks. Remember, many remote jobs are available today, so choose one that suits your career goals and present needs.
