Did you celebrate “Take Your Dog to Work Day” last month? June 22^nd is the date when employees across the US bring their canine companion to the office. This event gives pet owners a chance to show off their best friend and promote pet adoption. It may be true that allowing pets in the workplace can make workers feel happier. But if this became a routine practice, you’d need to rethink some aspects of your office furniture. Fabrics that could be easily stained would be out. So would any flimsy synthetic upholstery that might be punctured by a wayward claw. Acoustic panels with fluffy coverings where pet hair could accumulate would also be poor idea.

On the other hand, there are many materials used in today’s office furniture that could easily withstand the introduction of pets. Powder coated steel, high quality laminates and leather are good examples. Some top office furniture manufacturers are also creating textiles for the healthcare industry that are designed to be stain resistant and easy to clean. A few even have anti-microbial properties. These would be ideal for a work environment where “accidents” might occasionally happen even with housebroken pets. What would you change about your office furniture to make it more pet friendly? Let us know in the comments.