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He's a dog.
The brown-haired husky accompanies his owner, Thimpaporn
Phopipat, to work everyday at digital advertising agency YDM in
the Thai capital.
"Since I already love dogs, it really made me want to work
here," said Thimaporn, 29, a digital public relations manager
who also takes along her chihuahua, Muu Pan.
The bring-your-dog-to-work trend is gaining momentum in
Thailand, particularly at companies like advertisement firms
that are known to require irregular work hours.
The policy can help to alleviate stress, as well as attract, and
retain, employees, say some.
Other advertisement agencies in the Thai capital have
dog-friendly policies but YDM, with nearly 200 employees and 20
pet dogs, is by far the largest to adopt the scheme.
Several studies point to the benefits of dogs in the workplace,
but a May 2017 study in the International Journal of
Environmental Research and Public Health warned against hazards
such as allergies and animal-borne diseases.
The same report said pets could help to buffer stress at work,
however.
Even those who don't bring their pets to work say other people's
pets help colleagues to bond better.
"Sometimes things can get chaotic, but it's a good kind of
chaos, because it makes me happy and relaxed," said Jitramas
Watana-ug, 31, a YDM account manager.
Agency owner Anuckanard Kongpanichakul, 42, introduced the
dog-friendly policy when she founded YDM eight years ago.
"For me it is very joyful, it feels like this is a home,"
Anuckanard said.
(The story corrects the spelling of agency owner in paragraph
12)
(Additional reporting by Amy Sawitta Lefevre; Editing by Amy
Sawitta Lefevre and Clarence Fernandez)
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