The pandemic saw an increase in the number of Canadians that adopted pets. But now that people are returning to in-person work, many pet owners are struggling to find affordable sitters, dog walkers and daycares for their pets.

In lieu of surrendering their pets to shelters, many owners are looking for pet-friendly workplaces. Some are even willing to take a pay cut in exchange for a pet-friendly office.

Today in The Conversation Canada, Tina Sharifi and Souha R. Ezzedeen from York University outline the benefits of pet-friendly workplaces and provide organizations with suggestions for making their offices more pet-friendly.

They write: “Organizations should respond to the animal care and companionship responsibilities of their employees, recognizing the importance of pets in people’s lives.”

Also today:

All the best.

Ibrahim Daair

Culture + Society Editor

A survey found six in 10 pet-owning workers left their job for a pet-friendly workplace and seven in 10 were willing to trade pay for a pet-friendly office. (Shutterstock)

Pandemic pet boom has increased the demand for pet-friendly workplaces

Tina Sharifi, York University, Canada; Souha R. Ezzedeen, York University, Canada

The rising number of pets — and their importance to their owners — has prompted organizations to respond to the growing demographic of pet-owning employees.

In 1907, a large anti-Asian riot took place in Vancouver. Here is a colourized photo of 245 Powell St., a stop on a walking tour that retraces the steps of the angry mob. (360 Riot Walk, Henry Tsang)

A white riot in Vancouver: Tracing the steps of the 1907 anti-Asian mob

Henry Tsang, Emily Carr University

A virtual walking tour traces the route of a white mob that attacked Asian communities of Vancouver in 1907. Learning about past contexts may shed light on the recent surge in anti-Asian violence.

Going online often involves surrendering some privacy, and many people are becoming resigned to the fact that their data will be collected and used without their explicit consent. (Shutterstock)

Protecting privacy online begins with tackling ‘digital resignation’

Meiling Fong, Concordia University; Zeynep Arsel, Concordia University

Many people have become resigned to the fact that tech companies collect our private data. But policymakers must do more to limit the amount of personal information corporations can collect.

There are variations in school curricula, grading policies and practices and social, cultural and educational values that affect grading and schooling internationally. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)

Why universities need to look beyond grades when admitting international students

David Baidoo-Anu, Queen's University, Ontario; Christopher DeLuca, Queen's University, Ontario; Liying Cheng, Queen's University, Ontario

Understanding complex and contextual differences in grading across cultures and countries is important. Only in doing so can we interpret student achievement based on grades in a fair and valid way.

La Conversation Canada

De la fumée se dégage de wagons contenant du pétrole brut après le déraillement d’un train à Lac-Mégantic, au Québec, en 2013. La Presse canadienne/Paul Chiasson

Accidents ferroviaires : la sécurité du public victime de la déréglementation

Bruce Campbell, York University, Canada; Jennifer Quaid, L’Université d’Ottawa/University of Ottawa

Deux compagnies ferroviaires, le CN et le CP, déterminent les lois, les règles et les règlements – avec la complicité de bureaucrates et de législateurs – de manière à servir leurs propres intérêts.

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