Amazon is a notoriously dog-friendly workplace, but it was only recently disclosed exactly how dog-friendly they really are.
In a recent blog post, Amazon announced that as many as 6,000 dogs come to work with their owners at their Seattle headquarters every day. That’s a lot of dogs!
The doggy culture was started early on when a husband and wife who both worked at Amazon started bringing their Corgi, Rufus, to work with them. He became such a popular mascot that employees would use his paw to click the mouse to launch some of the earliest pages. Although Rufus crossed the Rainbow Bridge in 2009, reminders of him are scattered throughout the campus. In fact, one of the buildings bears his name.
Nowadays, the Amazon campus has plenty of great features to accommodate all of their furry “employees.” According to the blog post:
“Reception desks in every office building are a must-stop spot to snag dog treats. On the 17thfloor of one of our buildings (Doppler), there’s a doggie deck—complete with a fake fire hydrant—where dogs can run around. The neighborhood has no shortage of poop bag stations, designated dog relief areas, and dog-friendly water fountains. This year, we also opened a community off-leash dog park in the Denny Triangle neighborhood for employees and dogs in the community to enjoy – it features rocks and other structures for dogs to play on.
Local dogs and their owners also enjoy organized events throughout the year. Barktoberfest, for example, is a big hit, offering dog-friendly treats, activities, and even a doggie Halloween costume contest.”
Studies have shown that having pets in the workplace lowers stress and boosts morale. And if employees aren’t stressed about rushing home to let their dogs out, they’ll be happier, more relaxed, and more productive!
Lara Hirschfield, the “Woof Pack” Manager, said:
“Having dogs in our workplace is an amazing treat. They make employees smile, and we’re proud this is such a uniquely Amazonian tradition. It’s truly ingrained in our company culture. Our employees love bringing their dogs to work and love meeting their co-workers’ dogs.”
She added that allowing employees to bring their dogs to work enhances the company’s culture of collaboration.
“Dogs in the workplace is an unexpected mechanism for connection. I see Amazonians meeting each other in our lobbies or elevators every day because of their dogs.”
Some of Amazon’s canine employees are on a “Meet the dogs of Amazon” webpage with their picture and a mini-biography. Mae, for example, is a 1-year-old Golden Retriever/Bullmastiff mix whose favorite toy is a hide-a-squirrel, and she loves “all creatures great and small.” Twelve-year-old Labrador Rocket’s favorite toy is a tennis ball, and he loves “thinking he is a puppy.” Two-year-old Meela is a Labrador/Whippet mix whose favorite toy is listed as “ball & cat” and she loves “people without guitars” – we’d love to know the story behind that one!
There are no size or breed restrictions on the dogs allowed at Amazon, but they must be registered, approved, and up-to-date on their vaccinations before coming. Employees also need permission from their managers and teammates. Dogs must be housebroken, healthy, well-behaved, and properly socialized.
Amazon employees go beyond the office to show their love for dogs also. In Tempe, Arizona, last year, for example, more than 90 Amazon employees, volunteers, and retailers volunteered with the Ohana Animal Rescue. They wound up dedicating more than 480 hours and completing 100% of their renovation wish list. Three volunteers even adopted dogs from the rescue before leaving.
(H/T: The Amazon Blog, This Dog’s Life, Amazon)
Feature image: Amazon News via YouTube
