By Solveig Fredrickson
Along with the customary briefcase, cup of coffee, and morning paper, some of America's workforce is taking dog chow, leashes, and pooper scoopers to work at Replacements Ltd. in Greensboro, N.C., the world's largest supplier of old and new china, crystal, silver, and collectibles.
"We've never had a problem: There have been no dog fights and nobody has ever been bitten," says Liam Sullivan, manager of public relations. "It's just amazing. Visualize four football fields of china and silver and crystal with a Great Dane or a Weimaraner walking around, just free."
Replacement Ltd. employees started bringing their dogs to work in 1996. Now 25 to 30 dogs report to work on any given day, and not one has damaged any of the company's 5.5 million-piece inventory. Telephone sales representative Julie Schindler is one of the company's 565 staffers. Her two-year-old Miniature Pinscher, Weenie, has become a regular since late 1998.
"I'm not a morning person, but when we come in, Weenie and I have to walk through several other offices to get to my office," she says. "Weenie has special friends in each office, so she runs around ahead and greets them... It's so much funthat's my favorite part of the day now."
Schindler's 6-by-10 cubicle is stocked with Weenie's dog bed, food and water dishes, and soft toys: "So if you accidentally hit somebody else's computer terminal or desk, it doesn't do any damage." For Schindler's peace of mind, Weenie's water dish sits on a remnant of indoor/outdoor carpeting that covers the cubicle floor. Another option is an absorbent placemat and bottom-weighted, tip-resistant bowls.
Offer fresh food during the day, but don't alter your dog's feeding routine, advises Lara Strazdin, manager of communications at the Iams Co. in Dayton, Ohio, another pet-friendly company. "It's important to have your dog on a regular schedule so you can plan his walks," she says. Dogs that are free-fed, she says, have unpredictable relief needs. For dogs with sensitive stomachs, consider bringing water from home. Water treatments differ, which can result in diarrhea or intestinal upset. Or the water's taste in your office simply may be unappealing.
Another must are treats, which Weenie gets during her twice-daily route to visit human friends. But obesity is a potential problem for any office dog, and at one point Weenie was putting on too much weight. Schindler has since substituted Cheerios and carrots for biscuits.
For dogs unaccustomed to the office environment, Schindler recommends baby gates for limiting access. Or, Strazdin suggests, use extra-long leashes that allow a wide range of motion and easy access to water. Make sure to leash your dog and carry a pooper scooper during walks.
Strazdin's Beagle, Beamer, can sometimes be found sitting in her owner's lap on the company's pets-OK Fridays. For this, Strazdin keeps a lint brush in her desk. Beamer's first visit was so exciting, Strazdin has also learned to keep a small bottle of odor- and-stain-removing enzyme spray nearby.
Many companies may soon join the ranks of Replacements Ltd., which found that people who bring their dogs to work are in the top 25 percent in customer service. Schindler, a Replacements employee for one year, says the policy is her favorite benefit and a strong reason for staying with the company. Replacements is counting on it.
"People tend to stay here longer because where are you going to go if you're really attached to your animal and he comes to work with you every day?" Sullivan says. "There aren't that many places who would accept that."
