Dogs At Work: A Perk That Pays Off

[Beryl]

CBS News Tonight:
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/...n2027546.shtml
Some Companies Find Furry Companions Keep Employees Productive


CBS) There's something about where Ryan Hayes works that millions of Americans would love.

Replacements Ltd. is a large china and silverware retailer with cookie-cutter corporate contemporary looks — until you look closer. As CBS News correspondent Richard Schlesinger reports, Hayes has company in his cubicle: Coco, his beagle puppy.

He's not alone. There are dogs all over the company, which encourages its 500-plus employees to bring them in. It's a perk that pays off.

"You do work better because if you're maybe having a bad day, you can just look down at your feet and you smile," Hayes says. As for the barking, he says, "It doesn't bother me because I'm used to it."

Bob Page owns the company and has built it into a roughly $70 million-a-year business. It was his idea to allow dogs.

Dogs are welcome in the office, in the warehouse, and even in the showroom.

Bringing dogs to work might make good business sense, according to one survey that found 46 million Americans would work longer hours if they were allowed to bring their furry companions into work with them.

So what used to be unheard of is now becoming almost commonplace. About 20 percent of American companies, including giants like Google, allow dogs in the office. The theory is that dogs reduce stress — and that's good for business.

"Anytime you have an employee that's content, I think they become more productive in general," Page says.

By and large, the dogs get along and express themselves only occasionally.

But have the dogs ever had an accident in the store?

"Well, they do occasionally have accidents," Page admits.

Coco got a little overexcited, but Hayes handled it. He went on with his day, Coco went on with hers — and throughout the office, it was business as usual.

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Dogs are welcome in the office, in the warehouse, and even in the showroom at Replacements Ltd.*(CBS)