64 per cent of Swiss employees would change jobs if they were allowed to bring their pet to the office. This figure comes from a recent study by Mars, Incorporated, which surveyed 1,000 Swiss employees. And it is surprising. Not just because the figure is high, but because it highlights something that goes far beyond pets.
Would anyone really change jobs just for the sake of a dog? Probably not. But perhaps because of what a dog symbolises. The study reveals something else, too. 48 per cent of respondents rate pet-friendly workplaces more highly than traditional benefits such as staff discounts, free snacks or after-work events. And 41 per cent even rank the option of bringing a pet to work above additional health benefits or extended parental leave. When people set such priorities, it’s no longer just about benefits.
It’s about culture. It’s about how we want to work. And, above all, it’s about how we want to be seen as people. For a long time, workplaces were organised according to a relatively simple principle – performance in exchange for pay. Those who did a good job were rewarded. Those who wanted to advance their careers invested time and energy. That worked for many decades.
These days, people ask themselves: “How do I feel here?” Does this company fit in with my life? Are my needs taken seriously? Am I allowed to just be myself here, or do I have to play a part?
This is precisely where the dog suddenly becomes interesting. A dog in the office doesn’t just change the atmosphere. It changes the message. It signals trust rather than control. It signals that work and life don’t have to be at odds with one another. It signals that people are not merely seen as employees, but as whole individuals with relationships, needs and a life outside the office.
It is therefore hardly surprising that 83 per cent of those surveyed say that pets help to create a more relaxed working atmosphere. Nor is it surprising that 86 per cent say that pet-friendly workplaces encourage regular mental and physical breaks.
What is interesting is that we have been discussing precisely these topics for years, albeit under different terms. Resilience. Mental health. Well-being. Stress management. New Work.
Perhaps we’ve been looking for complicated solutions all this time, when the real question is much simpler:
How can we create workplaces where people can thrive?
The study provides a surprising answer to this question. People want workplaces that are more people-centred. Workplaces that foster trust. Workplaces that encourage interaction. Workplaces that understand that motivation does not come from pressure, but from a sense of connection.
This shift is particularly evident among younger generations. Almost one in two people aged between 25 and 34 actively look for companies with pet-friendly policies when job hunting. This may seem trivial at first glance. In fact, it represents a profound cultural shift. The new generation isn’t simply looking for an employer. They are looking for a sense of belonging. They are looking for meaning. They are looking for quality of life. They are looking for a culture that fits with their own lives. Perhaps this also explains why 75 per cent of those surveyed would like companies to make their pet-friendly policies visible in job advertisements. It is no longer just a nice extra. It is a sign of how a company thinks and operates.
Perhaps that is why the most important finding of this study is not that 64 per cent of Swiss people would change jobs for the sake of a pet. Rather, it is that they are prepared to leave their employer in the name of greater humanity, trust and a sense of connection.
The dog is merely the messenger.
