Amazon Australia Unleashes New Dog Playground

• Amazon Australia launches its latest dog playground expanding its successful Dogs at Work (DAW) program
• New research finds that sixty-four percent (64%) of dog owners are more likely to work from the office if their pooch is welcome

 

27 February 2024: Today, in a paw-some move, Amazon Australia has opened its newest dog playground at its corporate office on Park Street in Sydney. The tail-wagging initiative underscores the company’s commitment to a pet-friendly workplace culture and is an extension of Amazon’s successful Dogs at Work (DAW) program.

New independent research, commissioned by Amazon Australia, shows that there is a high desire for dogs to be brought to work, with 69% of dog owners in Australia saying they would love to bring their furry friend to the office. However, nearly nine in ten dog owners (89%) confess they have concerns holding them back from fully embracing the concept. Most commonly, owners are worried that their workplace isn’t set up for dogs (58%) and that there’s no nearby park or open space for their pooch to enjoy some fresh air or to do their ‘business’ (28%). To mitigate these concerns for its employees, Amazon has opened a new dog playground on the roof of its Sydney office, providing a spacious and convenient area for dogs within the office premises.

Designed in consultation with experts and Amazon dog owners, the new state-of-the-art facilities include lush, bright green grass in an open plan area, that invites playful sniffing, and a generous area for roaming and bathroom breaks. To ensure a safe environment for pooches throughout the day, the playground is secured by high fencing.

The research found that 69% of working Australians believe that a dogs in the office policy would make their job more enjoyable, while 62% said that a policy which allowed dogs in the office would make them more likely to work for an organisation. This highlights the strong desire for more pet-friendly workplaces and provides employers with an opportunity to have an edge when it comes to creating attractive workplace environments.

Championing Amazon’s dog playgrounds is Senior Manager of Workplace Experience, Georgia Mitchell.

Mitchell says, “We’re so proud of our Dogs at Work program, we’ve seen a huge uptake in the amount of pawticipants registered and we’re constantly looking at ways to improve the overall experience. Creating zones that are dog-friendly and accessible means our employees can easily pop up to the playground and their pups can have a sniff and a play. Not only is this great for dogs but it also encourages our employees to step away from their desk, enjoy some fresh air, and get a walk in.

“Our research found that 80% of workplaces in Australia don’t allow dogs which is a shame when you look at the broader workplace benefits. Our dog playground provides a relaxed environment where our Amazonians can catch up and connect with one another. We know that those chance meetings and informal interactions go far beyond in strengthening social bonds for the team. Dogs at work have positive impacts on productivity, innovation, and collaboration, all of which we are focused on enhancing through the workplace experiences we create,” she continued.

Lord Mayor of the City of Sydney, Clover Moore AO is a strong advocate for creating a pet-friendly city and supports the integration of pets into more aspects of our daily life.

“We know pets bring many mental and physical health benefits. They’re vital companions and much-loved members of the family,” said Lord Mayor Clover Moore.

“Particularly in the inner city where people don’t have big backyards to let pets roam during the day, flexible and inclusive policies that welcome pets into the workplace are a huge help. The opening of Amazon Australia’s Dog Playground in Sydney is an exciting innovation and an example I hope other companies follow, helping make our city as furry friend friendly as possible!”

Alex Greenwich MP State Member for Sydney says, “With more and more people returning to work at the office, we can’t forget our furry co-workers who kept us company and acted as a sounding board during the pandemic. We know companion animals improve health and mental health, and that doesn’t need to just be limited to the home.  Thank you to Amazon for the leading the way with their Dogs at Works play area. Now we need the State Government to move on the growing call to allow pets on public transport.”

Dog playgrounds are part of Amazon’s Dogs at Work (DAW) program which has been a part of the company’s ethos since Amazon.com first launched in Australia. It is a global initiative that Australian Amazon employees have embraced with more than 10,000 pawticipants registered at Amazon offices around the world. This playground is the third of its kind in Australia and a continued extension of the highly successful DAW initiative.

 

** ENDS **

Notes to editors
Media contact:
Ellie Thomas, Corporate PR Amazon Australia
E: elliecth@amazon.comM: +61 451 321 083

Visual assets: B-roll is available upon request. Contact amazon@decpr.com.au for details.

 

About the Dogs at Work program

To participate in the workplace program, dogs must be registered, with employees providing the dog’s name and breed, vaccination certificate, registration form, microchip, confirm that their dogs are friendly with other dogs and people as well as signed confirmation from their office neighbours that they are happy to have a pooch in their pod. Dogs access the building via a designated lift from the loading dock so as not to impact other tenants in the building and respect those who prefer not to be up close and personal with dogs. Once approved to join DAW employees receive a ‘Woof Pack’ for their pooch, including a branded bag, a doggy mat for them to lie down on, a water bowl and key chain. To welcome each dog into the workplace, treats are available at each reception.

About Amazon
Amazon is guided by four principles: customer obsession rather than competitor focus, passion for invention, commitment to operational excellence, and long-term thinking. Amazon strives to be Earth’s Most Customer-Centric Company, Earth’s Best Employer, and Earth’s Safest Place to Work. Customer reviews, 1-Click shopping, personalized recommendations, Prime, Fulfillment by Amazon, AWS, Kindle Direct Publishing, Kindle, Career Choice, Fire tablets, Fire TV, Amazon Echo, Alexa, Just Walk Out technology, Amazon Studios, and The Climate Pledge are some of the things pioneered by Amazon. For more information, visit amazon.com/about and follow @AmazonNews.

Research methodology

The research was commissioned by DEC PR and Amazon and conducted by Lonergan Research in accordance with the ISO 20252 standard. Lonergan Research surveyed 1,307 Australians 18+. Surveys were distributed throughout Australia including both capital city and non-capital city areas. The survey was conducted online amongst members of a permission-based panel, between 5 and 9 February 2024. After interviewing, data was weighted to the latest population estimates sourced from the Australian Bureau of Statistics.