If the past several years have taught leaders anything about their workforce, mental health support is no longer a “nice to have.” In fact, well-being has become a core pillar of the employee experience.
While organizational leaders continue to look for low-cost, high-impact and compelling ways to bring more well-being benefits to their people, there’s one easy investment hiding in plain sight: supporting the 70% of your workforce who are pet parents.
Over the last few years, pet ownership has reached historic highs across the globe. It’s no surprise that this surge in pet ownership began as our collective well-being started to dip. Research repeatedly shows a positive association between pet ownership and well-being, how it improves social support, and also helps individuals better manage long-term mental health conditions. Here’s how:
The link between our physical and mental health has been long established, but pet owners seem to benefit more than others. It is estimated that pet ownership saves the U.S. health care system $22.7 billion every year. In fact, pet parents are estimated to visit the doctor less than non-pet owners on an annual basis producing a costs savings of $15 billion. Less time spent at the doctor means more time spent enjoying time with your pet.
Pet parenthood impacts our social and mental health, and is estimated to save almost $2 billion per year in costs connected to loneliness and social isolation.
The American Psychiatric Association reports that 69% of pet parents say that their pet helps reduce their stress and anxiety, and 66% say that their pets provide a calming presence. Pets create a consistent, reliable source of comfort that buffers against the weight of everyday stress.
It’s no surprise that 88% of pet parents consider their pets members of the family. For many people, that bond is among the most significant relationships in their lives, a source of steadiness, joy, and emotional grounding that shows up every single day.
Several studies have proven that pet ownership can play a vital role in our mental health, especially when it comes to helping to regulate mounting stress at work. For example, pets in the workplace help reduce stress and improve employee satisfaction. We also now know that just being around pets can lower the stress hormone cortisol, which helps reduce feelings of stress and anxiety.
Supporting pet parents isn’t just a gesture of goodwill. It’s a direct investment in the mental and emotional resilience of your workforce.
Although there are clear benefits to pet ownership, many employees struggle with the stress and uncertainty of today’s world. Here are just a few issues that may be detracting from their well-being:
Across pet food, accessories, and care prices are up. According to a report by Rover, Dog parents can expect costs to increase as much as 7%, while cat parents could see up to a 10% increase. Nearly half (48%) of pet parents are growing concerned about the rising cost of pet care over their pet’s lifetime.
Unfortunately, while there has been a boom in pet ownership, vet shortages have also skyrocketed. One recent study estimates that 75 million pets may lack access to veterinary care by 2030. These gaps in care access often leave your pet parent employees scrambling to search for health answers online or endure long wait times for in-person care. Typically, visiting a vet is only available during business hours requiring employees to take time off work (and for hourly employees, this is a choice between going unpaid or providing care for their pet).
When we think about caregivers in the workforce, we tend to picture employees caring for aging parents or young children but pet parents are caregivers, too. The toll is real: 87% of caregivers report stress and anxiety, 84% experience feelings of overwhelm, and 68% say caregiving has created financial strain. For employees already stretched across multiple caregiving roles, pet parenthood adds a layer of responsibility that rarely gets acknowledged.
Reducing the burden of pet parenthood won’t solve everything, but for a workforce already carrying a lot, it’s a meaningful place to start.
Without the above access, pet parents never really know what’s going on with their pet’s health, and their mind is often elsewhere, which can negatively impact their mental health and well-being. Or alternatively lead to a lot of time looking for answers from Dr. Google which can lead to more stress and concern.
Preventative, comprehensive pet care for your employees can be a few clicks away. Airvet’s 24/7 telemedicine service removes the inconvenience of time-consuming visits to the vet in person and long wait times to get appointments, making it easier for pet parents to get the care they need when they need it. The timely answers, preventative care advice, and resources Airvet provide offer pet parents peace of mind and support around-the-clock.
Learn more about Airvet for Employers and get in touch with our team.
