Dogs get a paw in the door

Matthew McKie, global marketing director for EA Sports FIFA, and Lola playing a game of soccer
Matthew McKie, global marketing director for EA Sports FIFA, and Lola playing a game of soccer

A weekly roundup of news and views on office culture, workplace trends, the daily grind and more

Want to promote collision and cooperation in the workplace? Offer employees low-cost wellness intervention or an effective recruiting perk? If so, call in the dogs. A growing body of research supports the notion that pets in the office offer many benefits, including acting as natural stress relievers and social lubricants. (Bloomberg)
 
Knock down office walls, encourage group work, hold lots of meetings and team bonding sessions. These are common workplace practices, but they discriminate against a group that makes up between a third and half of the population: introverts. Companies too often forget that whereas extroverts gain energy from other people, introverts need time on their own to recharge. (The Economist)
 
Real geniuses need not apply. You would think that the engineer who led the effort to move Mac to Intel processors would make an excellent customer service agent. But when JK Scheinberg, a 21-year Apple veteran, got bored of retirement and applied at a local Genius Bar, he didn’t hear back. Too smart, or too old? (The Guardian)
 
Want to work from home on Fridays? Of course you do. Here’s how to ask your boss, and an acronym to help you through that conversation. ARMS: Agree, Reframe, Make your case and Shut up. (Fast Company)