Take your dog to work day: the benefits of being a pet friendly company
Exclusive interview with the border collie Kobe Del Pre, Atim’s Wellness and Entertainment Director, about the positive impact that having a pet in the company brings to everyone’s mood and productivity.
If you thought that the presence of pets in the office was a fad, you were wrong…
The pandemic has made it clear how much these faithful companions contribute to our well-being: from 2019 to 2020, there was an increase of over 15% in adoptions of dogs and cats in Italy alone. Data from ENPA (Italian National Animal Protection Agency) show that a total of 17,600 pets found a new home during the pandemic, while the Coop 2020 Report informs that 3.5 million Italians have taken a pet during the lockdown or soon after.
Their empathic capacity, their energy and their reassuring power have been for many almost a remedy without side effects against the little daily anxieties triggered by the pandemic. Now that the whole country is gradually experimenting with more flexible forms of work, their presence in the office can bring indisputable benefits.
Stimulated by the Take your Dog to Work Day, which is celebrated on June 26, we wanted to explore the topic with someone who know it well: in an exclusive interview, Kobe Del Pre, Atim’s Director of Wellness and Entertainment, talked to us about his role in the company and the positive impact that the presence of pets, like him, can have in the workplace.
Kobe at work
What are your main duties at Atim?
My main task is to promote moments of serenity, carefree and joy. Since I arrived in the company I have implemented small breaks that require humans to take a few minutes off to play with me in the garden, to take me to pee or to walk around the sheds. These pauses are useful to regain contact with the outside world, to detach their focus from work for a bit and to promote a balance between moments of productivity and relaxation.
What is a typical day for you at the company?
As soon as I arrive , I greet everyone with my morning enthusiasm! Then I go up to Stefano Del Prete’s office. We have a very close relationship. I spend a lot of time with him and advise him on how to manage the priorities of the day, especially in times of great stress. Then I go to my personl kennel, from where I watch collaborators and transporters as they come and go. Many often come to greet me and this makes me very happy. My tasks change according to the day: making people chase me while I run with a ball in my mouth, checking the quality of the soil by digging holes in the garden, being caressed by the guys of the office or the production site…
In your opinion, what was the main perceived benefit of your presence in the office?
Many do not know it, but petting an animal is by far one of the most powerful anti-stress gestures there are: what could be nicer than a furry cuddle in the middle of the working day, huh? Caressing a dog like me, or another animal, lowers the blood pressure and gives people a greater sense of relaxation. Then, with my enthusiasm, spontaneity and unique personality, I believe I have contributed to creating a fun environment, which promotes good humor and more interaction between the guys who work there. I’ve been a very good boy!
What would you say to other companies which are considering to become pet-friendly like Atim?
I’d say that, if they have an environment and a team that allows it, the advantages of having pet at work are many. Animals like me have an enormous ability to strengthen empathy, contribute to self-esteem and create a more relaxed work environment. Bringing more of us to the traditional work environment decreases stress levels, favors opportunities for meeting and dialogue, improves the general mood and also impact posivitely on productivity.
People, Environment and Society: the Ethical Principles for an Increasingly Sustainable Future
We are proud to present Atim’s Code of Ethics!
It reaffirms one of our team’s fundamental principles: change begins due to the commitment of each one of us.
Ensuring the ethical and sustainable development of Atim is essential to create a positive chain impact, which goes far beyond the company itself. Our collaborators, all the people involved in the production chain we are part of, and even the environment we protect in the best possible way benefit from this.
Our Code of Ethics has 3 main pillars:
The People – each person’s work and contribution is a fundamental element for Atim’s development. Guaranteeing the best conditions to carry them out with full safety, health and respect is our prerogative.
The Environment – we monitor and keep up to date with the latest technologies and procedures to ensure that our activities have the minimum impact on the environment.
The Society – transparency is a sine qua non condition of work in Atim. We operate with the utmost fairness and in compliance with the law, doing our part to create an ever more just and inclusive society.
“To convene the principles that have always guided our company in a solid document allows us to be even more transparent with all those who are part of Atim’s world: collaborators, agents, suppliers, customers, even the final consumers who choose our solutions in over 50 countries. This Code of Ethics clearly expresses our values and how we try to help preserve the planet in the present and for the future. When each of us does their part, everyone benefits”, says Stefano Del Prete, founder and CEO of Atim.
We invite you to read the full document on this link:
Atim: 25 Years of Creativity and Innovation
2021 is a very special year for Atim.
After all, exactly 25 years ago we opened the doors of what, at the time, was only a very small industrial plant. A company that was already born with the promise of challenges and hard work in the years to come, towards the creation of remarkable solutions for the Made in Italy furniture industry.
Watching this story unfold has been a source of great pride for us. In these 25 years, the watchword of our business has always been Innovation, a principle that has made Atim a strategic partner of the main manufacturers of the national furniture industry and which has consolidated the great recognition of our production all over the world.
The history of our Atim is the result of many other stories: stories of the employees who have been with us for years. Stories from partners who believe in our proposals and offer them to customers in more than 50 countries. Stories of architects and designers who have found with us the solution for ambitious and surprising projects. In short, stories of individuals, professionals and families who have been able to enjoy products designed, developed and manufactured by us.
So, to celebrate 25 years of our foundation and all the achievements of this quarter of a century, we would like to share these stories with you. It is our way of thanking all those who have made Atim a strong company, recognized for its seriousness, availability, quality and efficiency.
Stay tuned for the surprises of the coming months. We have started the celebrations for Atim’s birthday and you are our special guest!
Best regards,
Team Atim