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Diverse Human Families and Pet-friendly Work Environments: Pawternity of Dogs

Diversity within Diversity Management

ISBN: 978-1-78973-172-9, eISBN: 978-1-78973-171-2

Publication date: 7 May 2019

Abstract

Purpose

This chapter of exploratory nature aims to provide an account of the reviewed literature and presents some empirical cases to come to conceptualize dogs as social actors with different legitimate roles in the working, social, private, economic, and family life of human beings.

Design/Methodology/Approach

This chapter is the product of a research inspired by the great interest of the authors on rising awareness of the importance of dogs in human working lives. For this, a purposive literature review took place; we consulted scientific studies databases, and also gathered information from market research agencies, and other general media resources. To have a more comprehensive view, and to respond to a specific question on dogs at the workplace, a selection of cases is used to illustrate. For the case studies, secondary data research was used, and individual, structured interviews were conducted and analyzed.

Findings

This chapter reviews the relationship between humans and animals. It identifies attitudes and perception toward animals, highlighting the evolution of the intimate bond and the deep relationship between dogs and humans. It describes some cases of dogs as working beings at the service of human functions and dimensions of the pet care markets. Finally, it presents some cases of pet-friendly work environments.

Originality/Value

The novel contribution of this chapter is putting dogs in the management of diversity academic literature. In this study, we find that the role, meaning, and purpose of dogs in people’s lives (and in many cases in organizations) are being underestimated. Including and making visible the presence of dogs in the personal, work, and well-being of people represents challenges to be addressed by managers. Additionally, it represents challenges to think about and investigate the welfare of dogs that interact with human beings in productive environments.

Keywords

Acknowledgements

Acknowledgments

Authors would like to recognize the great support received by their encouraging and very talented research assistants and most loving and loyal companions both in Cyprus and Colombia: Maya (pit bull), Cian Felipe (miniature pinscher), Tiwaz Andres (Italian greyhound), and Valentin Amado (Italian greyhound). We would like to imagine they are proud and happy we finally wrote this chapter (with the support of Miguel Olivas-Lujan) to contribute a more inclusive and open world to diversity (Picture 1, Picture 2, Picture 3).

Picture 1: 
Maya – Cyprus.

Picture 1:

Maya – Cyprus.

Picture 2: 
Cian Felipe – Colombia.

Picture 2:

Cian Felipe – Colombia.

Picture 3: 
Tiwaz Andres & Valentin Amado – Colombia.

Picture 3:

Tiwaz Andres & Valentin Amado – Colombia.

Citation

Gonzalez-Perez, M.A. and Georgiadou, A. (2019), "Diverse Human Families and Pet-friendly Work Environments: Pawternity of Dogs", Diversity within Diversity Management (Advanced Series in Management, Vol. 22), Emerald Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 273-293. https://doi.org/10.1108/S1877-636120190000022014

Publisher

:

Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2019 Emerald Publishing Limited