Starting this year, Unicredit employees can bring their four-legged friends to the office: the Dogs at work initiative has launched at the company's headquarters in Piazza Gae Aulenti in Milan.
Animal rights are about this too: the possibility of going to work with your four-legged friend without forcing them to spend long, lonely hours at home. The Unicredit headquarters in Piazza Gae Aulenti in Milan had the bank's employees' dogs in mind when it launched an initiative that is very much in keeping with animal lovers' expectations. The bank has launched a pilot project, "Dogs at work", which allows employees to bring their dogs with them into a specially equipped room designed to provide a suitable, fully furnished environment — a space that is "dog-friendly".
At Unicredit, each dog can stay under its owner's desk, but can also play and socialise with other dogs in the dedicated room created for them. They will have toys, activities, and bowls with food and fresh water always available. In return, all animals must meet specific requirements: they must be regularly vaccinated, fitted with a readable microchip and a special insurance policy covering any damage they might cause to people or property, and must undergo routine anti-parasite treatment for ticks, fleas, lice and other internal and external parasites.
The initiative will soon be extended to other branches of the bank. It is worth recalling, in this regard, that in November 2018 the Milan Health Protection Agency (Ats) had also allowed employees to bring dogs and cats into the office. Moreover, recent American research has highlighted how bringing man's best friend into the workplace is extremely beneficial, not only for increasing cohesion among colleagues, but also for ensuring a more relaxed and productive atmosphere during working days.