Pets 'in demand' to perk up office staff

Pets, TVs and games consoles are all in demand

An office pet such as a hamster or a parrot would make people more productive, a poll of workers suggests.

Employees said a little bird or animal would also create a happier atmosphere at work.

But with the World Cup dominating office conversation at the moment, workers are not happy to settle for a pet.

Many of those questioned said a big screen satellite TV or a table football machine is what is really needed to turn their workplace into a dream office.

Games consoles

Staff hooked on frothy coffees want to have easy access to their favourite hot drink with a cappuccino machine.

Goldfish could be soothing

Games consoles also come high on the list of office improvements.

The poll of 1,500 workers and employers was carried out for the recruitment firm Office Angels.

The survey found that the office environment had a direct effect on productivity.

Open plan offices

More than 80% of those questioned said the atmosphere at work would be hugely improved if their offices were redecorated.

They also wanted more natural light.

And the trend to make offices big, open plan spaces has not found favour with many of the people who have to work in them.

Most of those questioned said they would rather work in a closed space than in an open plan office.

Do you think a pet or games console would make your office a happier and more productive place? What other improvements to your working environment would you like to see? Use the form below to tell us your views.

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I have worked in an office with TV, Stereo, table football and a pool table and to be honest, they were hardly used (perhaps we were all so happy in the knowledge they were there our increased productivity didn't allow us time to use them). Personally access to the following would make me happy: A fridge, kettle & microwave.
Ellen, UK - London

Beer on tap and a huge Scalextrix kit would brighten my day.
Jonathan Sheraton, Emgland

We have a dog in our office, and its great for a few minutes break every so often. It keeps the dog happy, as he isnt locked up at home, and keeps us entertained! I think a games console would be a bad idea, having seen the amount of time some people spend on it, they would get no work done.
Rob, UK

Goldfish may be soothing, by pirahnas are entertaining.
Richard Rackham, UK

A kettle would be nice, but health and safety think otherwise... Chairs that don't make your back ache would be good as well. As for a pet - someone would have to clean up after it and it would probably be me so no thanks.
Paul, UK

Our head of development brings his two huge dogs in each day. He's done it since we were a tiny little company and he was one of the founders - only now we're not so small. We had to have a new set of rules about bringing in pets - they can now be banned for aggressive behaviour, included in the definition of which is "eating a co-worker's food"...
Jeremy, England

A dog in the office would certainly brighten up the place, but it would have to belong to someone rather than just being a piece of office furniture. Maybe people should be allowed to bring their dogs to work?
Peter, UK

I think a cat would make the purrfect addition to the office. They don't need as much attention as dogs, are more fun than fish and have the added bonus they will keep the office mice at bay. And no, I do not work at the house of commons!
Purrcat, UK

As music has been proven to increase concentration and productivity I am still surprised to see that many offices still frown upon the presence of a radio/sound system. Music makes a working day more bearable.
Sally Bendall, Leeds, England

Stuck for a fourth objective just over a year ago, I put "Install and maintain the new office aquarium." I thought I was being funny. The boss didn't and sure enough he came up with the cash. We now have a very posh tank in the reception/lounge/kitchen area of the office (where the kettle, microwave, fridge and TV are) and it goes down very well with the clients. Rumour has it we'll be adding a fish-cam to the company web site in the not-too-distant future!
Andy Shaw, UK

I think game consoles wouldn't be any good, people already have eyes like marbles from watching PC monitors. We have a valid office cat, but we had to get lockable keyboards; in order to get attention and food the cat is fond of dumping his furry body on the keyboard
Claudio Cantadore, Italy

We already have an animal - he sits in an office at the end of the room. Once in a while he comes out and barks at the staff, but we try to avoid this by keeping him well fed and occasionally taking him on walks.
Richard, London, UK

Open plan offices have been proven to be less effective than more partitioned spaces (I personally know a researcher involved). The last thing I want at work is a squawky parrot or a hamster chewing on anything in sight. What I would like is fresh air (rather than recirculating aircon), some natural daylight and some privacy - I hate having everyone and their dog able to look over my shoulder.
John B, UK

Could be greatly improved with lots of fish, a few hunky fishermen and a missing boss.
Jocelyn, United Kingdom

Several of us here have Siamese Fighting Fish on our desks - you know the ones you can put with a Peace Lily. They are very pretty and very relaxing. It's also quite a conversation piece with visitors!
Alison, UK

We've got some manky goldfish lurking in a greenish tank in our office. The only thing they contribute is a conversation every month or so in which we try to guess which one will die first.
Anthony, UK

We watch bananas grow mouldy in our office - you feel you have an incentive to get to work in the morning to see how they are getting on !
Mark, England

How about a mouse that works?
Maria, UK

A bar would be nice.
Russ, UK

My previous office had a "toy" room with pool table, table football, playstation, tv, etc. the most popular of which was the pool table. I think it was a nice idea. What my current office needs most is air conditioning, more natural light and most of all to be less crammed
Isabelle, Scotland

What a brilliant idea? I get really tensed at work, sometimes, I think a small fish would be relaxing to watch while you work. Once again what a brilliant idea.
David Dutton, Hamphire, uk

Here where I work we already have free coffee of surprisingly good quality and a private garden in which we can sit out in when the weather nice. I would not mind however being able to bring my dog into work so he can sleep at my feet like he does at home, but European law and possible allergies among my co-workers make that impossible.
Matthew, France/UK

Given the current state of the jobs market, particularly in London, I really don't think that giving staff access to on-line entertainment such as games etc is going to enhance the productivity of any office. The pets in the office thing however could make a big difference to many employees, especially if they are able to bring family pets (dogs would be the most obvious) into the office instead of leaving them at home for hours on end alone. Most dogs are perfectly house trained to behave in an office environment and it could make the work place a more convivial environment in which to work
Lawrie, London

The biggest single factor that I think affects my working environment is the lack of natural daylight. All the Directors/Management have offices with windows but we have to make do with airless/windowless low rise cubes far removed from the windows. I often spend time just standing near somebody's window to see the sunshine and get some sense and perspective of life beyond the artificially lit cube that is my home for 12 hours a day.
nicola lewis, United States

I think that having pets in the office and/or allowing employees to bring their pets to work could revolutionize the workplace and reverse the downward productivity level spiral that we have experienced in the past two decades. Hamsters unite!
D.L. Roo Brown, Poland

We have dogs in our office and it's hell! it smells
Donna, Norfolk

I work for a large computer games developer, and hence we have consoles in every room. Naturally, I'd prefer a hamster or two, but its difficult to test your software on a rodent....
Kaye,

I just wanted to say that my boss brings in his dog everyday to work and it gives everyone in the company a real boost. I really think that she makes us more proactive as she makes us laugh with the funny things she does and that's is really important. We also have a Scalectrix and pool table and the guys love it and whenever their is a break in the day you know were they will be. Fridays are the best as the boss buys the beer and it really gets us into the weekend mode.
Belle, UK

Been discussing this in the office. The conclusion was that it would all end in a Pet "Arms Race" with each department getting bigger and fiercer pets. It would end in someone getting eaten and I think morale may suffer.
Stephen Kennington, England