Pets have a significantly positive impact on the mental and physical health of remote and hybrid workers, and roughly 91% of respondents say that caring for pets has improved their remote working experience overall.
New survey results also show that most remote workers feel the benefits provided by pets are irreplaceable, as roughly two-thirds (65%) of respondents say they would never even consider a new role that didn’t offer a hybrid or remote working option.
TrustedHousesitters, a pet-sitting platform that offers unique homestays in exchange for caring for pets, conducted a comprehensive survey of over 2,000 users to learn more about pets’ role in the remote working experience.
The survey reveals that pets positively impact remote workers, particularly in three key areas: work-life balance, work-related stress, and healthy habits. Explore key survey findings below!
Pets + Work-Life Balance
- Nearly half (49%) of respondents said pets benefit their remote working experience by forcing them to take a break from their screen during the workday.
- Nearly all (98%) of respondents said pet-sitting with TrustedHousesitters has improved their lifestyle.
- Of the remote workers who pet sit, the opportunity to visit places they wouldn’t have otherwise visited is the greatest benefit pet-sitting provides to the remote working experience (74%).
Pets + Stress
- 9 out of 10 respondents (91%) agree that working in the company of animals reduces feelings of work-related stress.
- Half (50%) of respondents said pets reduce feelings of loneliness while working remotely.
Pets + Healthy Behaviors
- 44% said that pets benefit their remote working experience by encouraging them to keep a daily routine
- Nearly 66% of remote workers said taking care of a pet benefits them by getting them to go outdoors at least once during the workday.
Angela Laws, Head of Community at TrustedHousesitters, commented on the findings:
“This survey proves that when it comes to mental health, pets are the perfect partners for remote workers. They provide companionship and help facilitate a much-needed balance between virtual work and life.”
“The impact pets have on the remote working experience helps explain why remote workers continue to be so active on TrustedHousesitters, with over half—or 54%—of remote and hybrid respondents saying they pet-sit at least once a month or more. If you’ve got a case of remote working blues, pet-sitting makes for the perfect cure.”
Visit TrustedHousesitters for a full breakdown of the survey.