Kim Smetzer already has two dogs at home. Then her employer added a goldendoodle puppy named Max to her workplace.

"I've always been a dog lover," said Smetzer, a senior program manager at Holmes Murphy in Waukee. "I feel like I've adopted Max as my third dog. I try to see him every day."

The insurance company introduced Max to help reduce stress and improve morale among employees. Smetzer said it has worked so far. She often makes a point to walk Max or just stop by for a quick visit.

"I think just in general, his presence provides a boost in your everyday employee morale," she said while rubbing the canine's belly. "He puts a smile on my face every time I see him."

Max seems at ease inside the corporate environment.

Chasing a ball, his paws slide atop the polished concrete floors in Holmes Murphy's sleek new offices off of Grand Prairie Parkway. He seems just as content when he curls up for a nap.

Leaders of the insurance brokerage initially considered acquiring a dog as a means of keeping in check the goose population of a nearby pond. But they quickly decided that they'd prefer a dog inside to enhance the office culture.

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Many employers in recent years have embraced pets in the workplace as another way to entice and retain workers.

That's ever important as unemployment rates sink: Iowa's August unemployment rate of 2.5 percent was the second lowest in the nation. And employers have struggled to find candidates for openings in nearly every industry.

A study released by Nationwide in June showed that employees felt more engaged with their work and were more likely to recommend their employer if the workplace allowed pets or offered pet-centric benefits such as pet insurance.

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However, Nationwide, a major employer in downtown Des Moines, does not allow pets in the workplace.

In Seattle, more than 6,000 dogs are registered to accompany employees to work at Amazon's headquarters. Other companies such as Bank of America, Petco and Ben & Jerry's allow workers to bring their pets to work, at least occasionally.

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Still, a majority of pet-friendly workplaces have no formal policies, according to a 2016 report by Banfield Animal Hospital. That survey found that pet-friendly workplaces had better employee morale and retention rates.

"Dogs are calming," said Karla Radda, vice president of operations at Holmes Murphy. "We're employee friendly, we want people to enjoy coming to work. And they enjoy coming to work and playing with Max."

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The insurance firm doesn't allow employees to bring their own pets to work. Though he isn't isn't a certified service dog, Max attended weeks of training to ensure his behavior would mesh well in an office setting.

"He's a very polite dog," Radda said.

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She takes Max home with her at night and weekends, but he's otherwise a full-time office dog, free to wander the halls or lay under a desk. The company covered the cost of his purchase, vet bills and other expenses.

"We have a lot of traffic down in here," Radda said. "We have not found one person that does not like him."

Jonathan Altes, an IT manager, frequently runs with Max on his lunch break.

"It's not an opportunity you get every day to have a dog in the workplace," he said. "There's a lot of excitement. It's something people like to talk about at the office."

Max is generally gentle and quiet, even when playing. But he does get perturbed when he encounters delivery or office carts.

"You definitely know when somebody's pushing a cart around," Altes said. "But that's the only time you really hear him bark."

Holmes Murphy employs about 360 people in its Waukee headquarters. And Max's presence has become a selling point when the firm looks to hire, Altes said.

"We're a growing company and we do a lot of interviews," he said. "It's always something that's a great discussion point people ask about."