In the UK, there’s a long-running story about Gen Zs, Millenials (and others) being unable to work (the sick note culture – see below). Overall, 4.2 million working-age adults (10.2%) in the UK now get health related benefits, up from 3.2 million (7.9%) in 2019.
The number of people on disability benefit has increased dramatically and the politicians and employers are scratching their heads as to why and what to do. Some put the blame on long Covid and others might secretly put the blame on fecklessness.
The fantastic 80% of salary payments (UK furlough payments) to do nothing during 18 months of Covid lockdowns seems, to some, to have encouraged people to stay away from work and it’s costing the economy dearly.
Many workers want a pet friendly workplace
North America: Well, a recent study found that 41% of pet owners are willing to take a pay cut to work in a pet friendly environment. I believe the study comes from North America but I have a strong feeling that the same or similar result would apply to some countries in Europe including the UK.
Sick note culture?
Perhaps, a change in work policy at some businesses to one which was more pet friendly would encourage allegedly workshy people to return to the office. And if they aren’t workshy but genuinely ill, it still might encourage them to return. A lot of these people are off work because of rather amorphous illnesses such as depression, anxiety and perhaps back pain.
You’ll have to excuse me for being cynical (I am not the only one) about this but a lot of these illnesses such as depression are difficult to diagnose and based upon a person self-certificating that they are depressed. And depression can sometimes be described as feeling down. Feeling down is part and parcel of life. You can see the problem.
But I don’t want to denigrate people unjustifiably. I just want to find a solution as does the government.
A pet-friendly workplace is not just good for dogs and employees; it is good for the bottom line.
Nathan Winograd
Study about pet friendly workplaces
I would like to point out some of the findings of this study. They are presented below:
- Two fifths or 41% of pet owners say that they would be willing to take a pay cut in order to work in a pet friendly environment.
- Millennials are three times as likely to have a pet than a child and 70% of North American households have at least one pet.
- 47% of respondents (there were 1,800 participants in the survey) said that working in a very pet friendly workplace is a high priority when choosing where to work.
- The above is especially relevant for generation Z respondents. 62% of Gen Z respondents said that they pet friendly workplace is a priority for them.
- 35% of baby boomers had similar thoughts.
- People allowed to work at home in a hybrid environment (working from home and working from the office) said that they take five “cuddle or play breaks” throughout the work day to spend time with their pet. And 59% of the respondents said that these cuddle breaks were “an absolute must” to their work schedule. 💕🙄
- Almost a quarter of respondents said that they were more concerned (more stressed) about how their companion animal was doing at home than they were about their work responsibilities.
- More than half realise that their pet could suffer from separation anxiety while they were at the office.
- 47% said that they also suffer from separation anxiety when working away from their companion animals. 😊
The undeniable conclusion is that companion animals are a vital ingredient to the welfare of employees and that employers should do all they can to ensure that the work environment is supportive of companion animals and the relationship between their employees and their companion animals. As I said at the beginning, it is probably a very good idea for some employers to alter their policies to integrate pet caregiving a far more meaningful way into the employee contracts.
Amazon
Amazon have done exactly this in North America in expanding their “Dogs at Work” program to get their employees back into the workplace after Covid. It has been a struggle for many employers to change up from working from home to working from the workplace. Employees have been reluctant to go back and they have the upper hand in the UK where some employers are finding it difficult to find enough employees to run their businesses efficiently because of a high level of inactive individuals as mentioned at the beginning of this article.
How does Amazon’s ‘Dog at Work’ program work?
Amazon’s “Dogs at Work” program is a good initiative that allows employees to bring their furry companions to work. I am usnsure if cats are allowed! There must be a limit and it needs to be carefully managed. Here’s how it works:
Registration and Welcome Package: Employees can register their dogs for the program. Once registered, they receive a welcome package for their pups.
Designated Dog-Friendly Spaces: Amazon and AWS offices in North America have designated dog-friendly areas. These spaces allow dogs to play and interact with other pups.
Dog-Friendly Events: The program hosts various events open to all employees. Events range from virtual dog treat baking classes to ask-a-veterinarian seminars. Street fairs feature dog pools, doggie swag, and agility courses.
Remote Work and Office Dogs: Since the pandemic, many employees work remotely. Even in virtual meetings, “office dogs” occasionally make adorable appearances.
Community and Bonding: Amazonians share pictures of their dogs on internal Slack channels. The Amazon Puppers Chat channel is a favorite spot for dog lovers. It’s heartwarming to see the love and joy these pups bring to the workplace.
Dog Stories: Meg Larson, an AWS employee, found her dream adoption pup through the program. She connected with fellow Amazonian Rachel Moose, who was fostering a dog. Larson’s labrador retriever mix, Dottie, became her beloved companion.
Benefits: Reduced stress levels: Having dogs around boosts morale. Increased interaction: Dogs create a friendly and positive atmosphere. Discounted pet insurance and free treats add to the perks.
Changes
Rishi Sunak, the UK’s Prime Minister, has proposed significant changes to the process of signing off sick. Here are the key points:
Tackling “Sick Note Culture”:
Rishi Sunak aims to address what he calls the “sick note culture” in the UK.
He believes that benefits have become a “lifestyle choice” for some individuals, leading to a “spiralling” welfare bill. The goal is to make it harder for certain patients to obtain a sick note.
GP Power Stripped:
Sunak wants to strip GPs (General Practitioners) of their power to sign people off work. Previously, GPs were the primary healthcare professionals authorized to issue sick notes. The proposed changes would involve more “objective assessment” by specialist work and health professionals rather than GPs.
Young Workers and Welfare:
Sunak highlighted that a record high of 2.8 million people were out of work as of February 2024. He expressed concern about a “worrying” proportion of younger potential workers facing unemployment. Sunak emphasized the need to provide support and prevent a generation of young people from feeling isolated and disconnected.
Benefits Removal:
If the Conservatives win the general election, those who remain out of work after 12 months of support from a work coach will have “their benefits removed entirely”. Sunak clarified that there would still be a “safety net” for those who genuinely need it.
Disability Charities’ Reaction:
Disability charities, including Scope, criticized the plans as “a full-on assault on disabled people”. They suggested that the reforms were driven by cost reduction rather than genuine support for disabled individuals.
Background on Sick Notes:
Sick notes, officially known as “fitness to work” notes, certify that an individual’s ill health affects their fitness for work. While GPs used to be the sole signatories, the eligibility was expanded in 2022 to include nurses, occupational therapists, pharmacists, and physiotherapists.
