The Ferray Corporation has the answer to increasing employee productivity, morale, communication, and stress relief: cats!
The tech company is based in Tokyo, a busy city where many apartments are either too small for pets or don’t permit them.
[告知] 9匹の猫と働くIT企業ファーレイ株式会社では4月19日13時から採用説明会(第一期採用過程最終)を行います。猫と同伴出勤できる上に猫手当てもつきます。詳しくは弊社ウェブサイトで。え！ごはん！？ pic.twitter.com/QMr30YXEPz
— V and Ume (@v_ume) April 6, 2017
In addition to long work days, it can be hard for some locals to have companion animals of their own.
もう少し軽い膝掛け毛布が欲しかったんだけど。 pic.twitter.com/1Tm4rwJGr1
— V and Ume (@v_ume) March 17, 2017
But Ferray Corporation decided to offer its employees the best of both worlds. Staff members can have a great career and a kitty companion because they’re allowed to bring their cats to work with them!
途中に写りこむ、ボロボロの椅子は気にしないでください。 pic.twitter.com/d9ZcO1nQPR
— V and Ume (@v_ume) February 24, 2017
Currently, there are 9 furry hires that keep an eye on things in the office, although they do cause a fair amount of mischief.
インターンシップ２日目。猫たちの監督のもと課題に勤しむ学生たち。プレッシャーに負けるな！ pic.twitter.com/HAJYy2vndS
— V and Ume (@v_ume) December 27, 2016
According to Rocket News 24:
“Apparently they accidentally switch off computers, chew on LAN cables, scratch the walls, tear up papers, and of course mess up code by walking across keyboards. When clients come over, the cats have a bad habit of exploring their bags by falling inside them, and sleeping right on top of meeting tables.”
くるくる回ってるうちに猫が増えると言う種類のイリュージョン。 pic.twitter.com/i4w2KHb1m7
— V and Ume (@v_ume) September 21, 2016
But despite their antics, the company wants to welcome more whiskered workers. If an employee wants to rescue a feline and adopt it into the family, Ferray Corporation will pay them a monthly “cat bonus” of 5,000 yen — or almost $45 — to help offset costs. How cools is that?!
輪ちゃん、お母さんにだっこしてもらってよかったね！(仕事しろよ、お母さん。) pic.twitter.com/fBoFmfdklT
— V and Ume (@v_ume) September 20, 2016
Rocket News 24 reports:
“Ferray says that the most important quality they look for in new hires is a love of felines. They do ask that you have a minimum level of skill and experience too, but they always prioritize animal-lovers over anyone else.”
インターンシップ、明らかに一人不利な学生が。。。 pic.twitter.com/pDbiR24iCm
— V and Ume (@v_ume) September 7, 2016
This sounds like the kind of place we’d love to work! If you can’t move to Tokyo to switch careers just yet, you can do the next best thing by following @v_ume on Twitter!
(h/t: Rocket News 24)