Cesar Launches ‘Hire My Dog’ Program
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"A pet-friendly workplace is essential to our company culture, so we've implemented pet-friendly policies and 'pet perks' — such as leash attachments at desks, water stations and relief areas — to ensure our space is as pet-friendly as possible," Dave Bradey, people & organization head, Mars Petcare North America, said in the release. "Having a dog-friendly office continues to be a differentiator for employers seeking high-power talent. ... Our hope is for the Cesar Hire My Dog program to inspire more businesses to make simple transitions to a more pet-friendly workplace."
Mars Petcare's Cesar dog food brand has launched a Hire My Dog program to provide pet parents with the expertise and tools to advocate for more pet-friendly workplaces.
With the COVID-19 pandemic causing typical workplaces to adapt and evolve, many companies are revisiting what it will mean to be "in the office" post-pandemic and looking at new models to address workers' new expectations. Cesar believes keeping dog and dog parents together in the office can provide mood-boosting benefits, according to a news release from the brand.
A 2021 online survey of 1,003 U.S. pet parents from conducted by KRC Research from July 28 through Aug. 8, cited by Cesar, found that 89% said it's important for them to continue spending time with pets during the workday. Additionally, according to another survey conducted by KRC and commissioned by the Cesar brand, dog owners recognized various benefits of being able to bring their pet to work:
- The majority (58%) said that "dogs make the best co-workers."
- The most common benefits that pet parents believe that dogs at work can offer include boosting happiness (58%) and relieving anxiety or stress (57%).
- More than half of dog owners feel bringing their dog to work would encourage them to take breaks (55%) and would foster more social interaction in the workplace (52%).
Building off that, Cesar’s Hire My Dog program aims to equip pet parents and businesses with resources needed to welcome "canine co-workers" into a pet-friendly workplace at Cesarhiremydog.com. The dedicated website offers a Hire My Dog resume builder tool — a place for consumers to create a resume for their dog, which can be promoted on social media, endorsed by colleagues and friends, and shared with employers to help get your dog "hired."
The program is built on insights from Mars Petcare's Better Cities For Pets program, which uses a research-based model to identify the key actions that make a community pet friendly, such as shelters, parks and businesses. The dedicated website also includes the program's Pets Work At Work toolkit to help workers “responsibly advocate for pet-friendly workplaces” by providing a sample pet policy, pet amenities considerations and tips on pet-friendly design and more information.
To further promote pet-friendly policies in the workplace, Cesar is running a sweepstakes offering the chance for one pet parent to win a "Pup-Up Workspace" in his/her hometown or office. This experience will enable pet parents to work alongside their fur baby for the day in a custom spot with amenities needed.
From March 23 through April 13, 2022, pet parents can enter the contest by building a resume for their dog, sharing it on Instagram or Twitter with #HireMyDog, #Contest and tagging @CesarCuisine in their post and following the brand. After the contest closes, 15 eligible finalists will be chosen and awarded $25 worth of Cesar products, and one winner will win the pup-up workspace and a year’s worth of Cesar canine cuisine.