Animals Laboring for Humans: Integrating Animal Dignity into I-O Psychology

Abstract

Hernandez et al. (2025), in their focal article have put the spotlight on the role of animals in I-O psychology. It is true that animals are neglected by I-O psychologists, who have traditionally focused on human beings in the workplace, and how they feel, perceive and behave. It is therefore of great importance to extend our reach and research to animals. In this piece, we raise the question how I-O psychology can theorize on animals in the workplace. In so doing, we advocate integrating a dignity perspective on animals (Bal, 2017; Challenger, 2003) into the field to postulate possible research questions and provide answers as to how I-O psychologists can relate to animals in the workplace.</p