A Principled Approach

Also, Fisher and other Planet Dog managers established a very liberal maternity/paternity leave policy in which new dads receive two weeks paid leave, and new moms get one month paid leave.

These decisions are based on Fisher and Maloney’s goal to run a family-oriented, values-led business.

What the Planet Dog workplace is like: Employees can bring their pets to work with them. “We call the dogs product testers,” Fisher says. All items are first tried out on his own and employees’ dogs before being put in the catalog. Plus, he says, by bringing their best friends to work with them, employees are more apt to stay late, because they don’t have to rush home to let out or walk the dog. “We take dog breaks during the workday like other people take cigarette breaks. It’s a wonderful way to rest and re-energize.”