World News for Students of English

26-07-2023 07:00

Japan’s tech giant Fujitsu is taking cues from Silicon Valley with a dog office to build a more attractive office culture.

Fujitsu is trialing its new dog office until the end of the year at its building in Kawasaki, about half an hour by train from central Tokyo, as a way to improve employee well-being and productivity. A 2021 study published in the journal Animals found that having dogs in the office leads to more social interaction and cross-department exchange, and contributes to greater well-being and job satisfaction.

The dog office is covered with stain-proof carpet, free dog food, and an indoor play area for a toss-and-fetch session in between meetings.

The dog area is located in a closed-off part of the office so that those with allergies or those who just aren’t dog people can still work there. A dedicated elevator indicates it only stops at the dog area on the 25th floor.

Difficult words: take cues (to be strongly influenced by something or someone), toss and fetch (a game played with a dog when you toss an object and the dog brings it back).

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