It might not be too long before when you arrive at work, there's a barking dog or purring cat greeting you. That's because, according to new research, workers can be less stressed and more productive when there are pets in the workplace. About one-fifth of UK workplaces now welcome employees bringing in pets; could Irish employers soon take notice?

Women are fur happier with office pets

A survey carried out by the jobs listings portal CV-Library reveals that, while many British people are receptive to having pets at work, the women are especially so. 46% of women think that stress is eased and relaxation helped by a pet at work, while 29% of men believe the same, reports HRnews.

Also, while 21% of women say that these pets would make them feel friendlier or more approachable, a noticeably lower 14% of men concur. 40% of men deemed pets a workplace distraction, whereas only 30% of women thought along the same lines. 19% of the survey's male respondents even called workplace pets annoying.

In light of these figures, it shouldn't significantly surprise that, while 12% of men said that they had complained about pets at work, the proportion of the surveyed women who reported the same was a much lower 1%.

Woof a result - dogs are much preferred

When asked what animals they actually have at work, 87% of respondents claimed to have a canine there. Cats just couldn't purr-lease in comparison, with a mere 5% of people feline their furry presence in the workplace. Rabbits fared even worse, with their popularity on 2%.

Overall, almost half of the survey's British respondents expressed a preference for more workplaces to permit pets, though 20% said that HR should still impose strict policies regarding such.

Irish firms could benefit from corporate pets

Those aren't the only statistics hinting that Irish businesses might be able to ease their recruitment efforts by allowing pets in the corporate environment. For example, 28% of the respondents hinted that they'd be likelier to submit a job application if the position permitted furry friends in this way.

Lee Biggins, the managing director and founder of CV-Library, remarked: "Our new research shines a light on the latest HR trend that many businesses are implementing to stand out from the crowd and attract the very best recruits. It seems to be working, with women being more favourable to the trend.

"As long as clear protocols are in place for pet ownership, it is set to have a positive benefit to employees and those around them." So, don't be surprised if you canine believe how many dogs are in your office after you obtain a job through CV-Library, where job vacancies are very numerous.