THIS Friday is bring your dog to work day and research shows that allowing ‘man’s best friend’ into the workplace has heaps of benefits for employees and the office environment.

MedicAnimal, the UK’s largest online pet retail and health company, has released five top tips to consider when introducing our four-legged friends to the workplace.

1) Not everyone is a dog lover - It is not uncommon to be fearful or allergic to dogs, which could make some employees uncomfortable.

2) Health and Safety - Leads, dog beds, toys and even the canine itself can all be trip hazards.

3) Legalities - Even if the whole office is happy to welcome dogs, it is important that lease agreements are checked.

4) Distractions - Although short breaks and time away from the computer are encourages, rules must be set out to ensure that employees are not too distracted by the dog. Sixty-nine per cent of people agree that allowing pets in the office would be a distraction.

5) Behaviour - no matter how well an owner knows their dog, it is still an animal that may become frightened, agitated or aggressive. There is no certainty of how a dog will react in a new environment with strangers and other unknown dogs.