Stress levels will be lowered today for those staff taking advantage of Take
Your Dog to Work Day.
The event, organised by the Blue Cross animal charity, will see staff from
firms such as BT, NatWest, Eurostar, HSBC and Lloyds TSB taking dogs to work to
raise funds for the organisation.
Rachel Bower, HR director of the Blue Cross, said, "Research shows that
workers do benefit from being in the company of animals. It calms people down
and lowers blood pressure."
Several members of staff at the Blue Cross take their dogs to work each day
and she thinks it can lead to an increase work levels.
"Most people who walk their dogs at lunchtime say it improves their
productivity in the afternoon," Bower said.
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"It is a good opportunity for people to get away from their desks and
get some fresh air."
Last year, an NOP study into GPs’ attitudes to pet ownership found that 82
per cent of doctors think stress levels are reduced by having a pet.
