SEATTLE, June 13, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Whether it’s a single, designated day or an everyday occurrence, Trupanion (NASDAQ:TRUP), a leader in medical insurance for cats and dogs, believes everyone should celebrate taking their dogs (and cats) to work.
More employers are discovering the benefits of having a pet-friendly workplace which can include increased employee satisfaction and even increased employee retention. According to a recent survey by Trupanion, nearly one in four respondents (24%) indicated that their workplace was pet-friendly.
Trupanion’s TruPoll is a survey of 1,250 pet owners across the U.S. and Canada that addresses our dog and cats’ influence on our workplace, homes, relationships, activities and purchasing behaviors.
“Our offices have been pet-friendly since the very beginning when it was just me and my dog Charlie,” said Darryl Rawlings, founder and CEO of Trupanion. “Our pets are an important part of our culture and they constantly remind us why we come to work – to help the pets we all love receive the best veterinary care.”
Allowing pets in the office has been known to create an overall better place to work. Now, with 500 employees, 250 registered dogs and a few brave cats, Trupanion has one of the highest pet-to-employee ratios in the country.
With nearly two decades of experience in creating a safe and productive environment for both employees and pets, Trupanion offers the following framework for companies looking to celebrate the value of taking our pets to work – any day of the year.
Executive Buy-in
The CEO and senior management must agree to any pet-friendly policies. Executive support is integral to creating a great pet-friendly environment.
Landlord Approval
Many businesses do not own their building and will often share a facility with other occupants. The landlord must approve of any pet-friendly policies for the building and property management should be involved in the planning from the outset.
Create a Pet Policy
One of the most important ways to ensure a seamless integration of employee pets into the workplace is to create a finely-tuned Pet Policy which may include:
- Pet safety: Up to date vaccinations, housebroken, spay/neuter
- Manager approval
- Leash guidelines
- Registration of approved pets with the company
At Trupanion, there are two employees solely dedicated to overseeing the pets and the pet policy. There is also a Pet Emergency Team, made up of mostly former veterinary technicians, who respond to animal pet issues if they arise.
Pet-Proof Your Space
This may include incorporating baby gates or tethers and hiding electrical cords. At Trupanion, all floors are a non-slip surface to make the dogs feel safe and fear-free, and there are gated cubicles so office dogs and cats can enjoy being off-leash while sitting near their owner.
Communicate with Employees
After all of the approvals and pet proofing have taken place it’s time to notify employees that they are now allowed to bring their beloved pets to work! An orientation to go over the pet policy is also a good idea.
About Trupanion
Trupanion is a leader in medical insurance for cats and dogs throughout the United States and Canada. For almost two decades, Trupanion has given pet owners peace of mind so they can focus on their pet's recovery, not financial stress. Trupanion is committed to providing pet owners with the highest value in pet medical insurance with unlimited payouts for the life of their pets. Trupanion is listed on NASDAQ under the symbol "TRUP". The company was founded in 2000 and is headquartered in Seattle, WA. Trupanion policies are issued, in the United States, by its wholly-owned insurance entity American Pet Insurance Company and, in Canada, by Omega General Insurance Company. For more information, please visit trupanion.com.
Contact:
Media
Michael Nank
michael.nank@trupanion.com
888-612-1138 ext. 3567