Many people with anxiety and depression struggle to maintain a healthy work-life. Having an emotional support animal (ESA) in the workplace can benefit those who have these conditions by providing stress relief and boosting their overall mood.
ESAs are allowed in most places of employment and provide many benefits for those they live with, such as lower blood pressure, reduced heart rate, improved quality of sleep, increased feelings of calmness and relaxation.
If you or someone you know is struggling to maintain a healthy work-life because of any mental health condition, please consider getting an ESA!
Table of Contents
What Is An ESA?
An emotional support animal (ESA) is a pet that a mental health professional has prescribed to help patients with anxiety, depression, and related conditions.
You might have heard of the terms psychiatric service dog or psychiatric assistance dog being used interchangeably with ESA.
But you should note that ESAs do not have special access rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) while psychiatric service dogs do.
If you are serious about getting an emotional support animal for yourself, a friend or a relative, we recommend you to read an extensive guide regarding online ESA registration.
What Are The Benefits Of Having An ESA In Your Workplace?
Having an ESA in the workplace can benefit those who have any mental health conditions, including depression and anxiety, by helping them improve their mood.
ESAs are also known to help reduce feelings of loneliness which is helpful for individuals with social phobia or other socially anxious conditions.
A recent study found that having an ESA present in the workplace can improve team morale by 47%.
It is also important to note that, as service dogs, ESAs must be trained and cannot cause a disturbance. It means that business owners or managers have no reason not to allow an ESA into the office.
Following are the benefits of having an ESA in the workplace:
1. ESAs Can Also Motivate You To Start The Day
When people wake up in the morning, they often experience feelings of dread, especially common in individuals with mental health conditions like anxiety and depression.
However, a study published in Stress and Health Journal found that employees who received an ESA in the workplace had lower stress levels than those without ESAs.
2. Increased Productivity At The Office
Animals can help increase motivation and productivity, which is excellent for those who feel unmotivated at work or lose motivation after a period.
For example, one study showed that ESAs improved people’s energy levels by just looking at pictures of dogs! Many employers notice that their staff has more energy throughout the day when there are animals.
3. Maintains A Healthy And Positive Environment
Having an emotional support animal in the workplace is beneficial to employers and employees because it helps keep the office environment peaceful and positive.
A workplace with a dog can be more relaxed, friendly, and productive than one without. Employees who could bring their ESA to work reported increased satisfaction with their job and working environment even if they did not have a mental illness.
An ESA can help lower stress levels which improve mood and happiness. Several employees reported that they were less stressed even before bringing their ESA to work.
4. ESA Can Help People Stay On Track At Work
In addition to reducing anxiety symptoms, some studies show that dogs reduce symptoms of depression as well!
An ESA also relieves stress by decreasing blood pressure, heart rate, and cortisol levels, a hormone released in response to stress (the same hormone responsible for “fight or flight” reactions).
5. Make Things Work For People With ADHD
There is also evidence that pets can relieve symptoms in people with ADHD. It makes sense since dogs require regular care and attention, which provides a sort of ‘job’ for their owners to take on.
In addition, having an animal to focus on can help people with ADHD remain more focused during the day.
6. Aids Mental Health
Many people with anxiety and depression struggle to maintain a healthy work-life. Having an emotional support animal (ESA) in the workplace can benefit those who have these conditions by providing stress relief and boosting their overall mood.
If you or someone you know is struggling to maintain a healthy work-life because of any mental health condition, don’t hesitate to contact a doctor.
7. Helps People With Anxiety And Depression
Some people with mental illnesses or disorders such as anxiety and depression struggle to maintain a healthy work-life.
Having an emotional support animal (ESA) in the workplace can benefit those who have these conditions by providing stress relief and boosting their overall mood.
If you or someone you know is struggling to maintain a healthy work-life because of any mental health condition, don’t hesitate to get in touch with your doctor or therapist
8. Boosts Morale
The presence of an emotional support animal also boosts team member morale and reduces feelings of stress and anxiety. In addition, studies have shown that having a pet or animal companion in the workplace increases job satisfaction and encourages employees to feel more relaxed and less stressed.
9. Set Your Career
People with emotional support animals can also benefit from increased opportunities for career advancement.
If a team member suffers from depression, they might feel unmotivated to advance their career or apply for promotions because they feel like they do not have the energy or motivation to succeed.
Having a pet can help alleviate these feelings of despair and make them more willing to apply for promotions, take on challenging tasks at work, and perform well in their current position.
10. Reduce The Overwhelming Work Pressure
When people feel overwhelmed by their workload, they often find it difficult to focus, become unmotivated and procrastinate on completing their tasks.
People who have anxiety or depression often find it difficult to focus, particularly when overwhelmed with their workload.
Having an ESA in the workplace can motivate employees to finish their work sooner rather than later to spend time with their pets.
13. Reduced Sick Leaves
Having an ESA in the workplace also benefits from reducing sick days for staff who feel emotionally or physically better when around their pet.
There are also many other ways to manage stress at work, including taking breaks, prioritizing tasks, and exercising.
Conclusion
Employees who could bring their ESA to work reported increased satisfaction with their job and working environment even if they did not have a mental illness.
An ESA can help lower stress levels which improve mood and happiness. Several employees reported that they were less stressed even before bringing their ESA to work. Work might be the place you look forward to going to for your growth and career.
