Fetching results: how Spark’s pets help us to do our jobs

At Spark, whether we’re working from home or the office, we have a secret team of helpers that make our environments more positive, encourage regular screen breaks, and even boost our creativity. They are of course, our pets – and they really put in a shift!

With over a third of us at Spark fostering four-legged friends, they are always making appearances, whether on calls or in the office, and we thought it was time to give them their due. So, I spoke to the Spark team to see how they think pets positively impact our working days:

An instant mood booster

Running a pet-friendly office environment isn’t just convenient for pet owners. Research from the Kennel Club found that 70% of people say that dogs alleviate stress in the workplace, while 67% of people say that dogs make the atmosphere more friendly.

"By taking Nellie into the office I don't have to worry about leaving her unattended, but she always gives everyone a boost when she comes in!" – Cat

Taking the lead

Whether you’re in the office or working from home, it can be easy to get carried away spinning plates all day. But rain or shine Spark’s dog walkers must always step out every day, giving us valuable time away from our desks but also creating a stable routine and some exercise time – improving our physical and mental wellbeing.

A paws for thought

Sometimes the best way to come up with good idea is to focus on something else – and pets can be the perfect antidote to a blank page!

"After hours of staring at a piece of content it can feel like you're out of ideas. But that's when Bailey can come in and act as a circuit breaker, taking me away from the screen and giving me fresh perspective when I do come back to writing." – Rob

In good company

When working from home, pets can be brilliant companions through the day, providing (home) office comradery and promoting a better work-life balance.

“Fabio and Pudding are the best coworkers I could ask for, very creative, good for bouncing ideas off, always make sure I log off on time (to feed them).” – Michelle

It’s clear that, at Spark, our pets are more than just balls of fluff that turn up on video calls. Whether they are coaxing us out for walks, or relieving office stress, they are a valuable part of the team. And, with Spark’s flexible approach to hybrid working, we’re seeing how pets can even help us to be more productive at home or in the office.