Man names his dog 'Employee of the Quarter' for a year

An employee at an American manufacturing and hardware company is proving to be an asset after receiving recognition for four straight quarters. The catch? She’s a dog.

Meeka belongs to Michael Reeg, who runs the one-man company from home. The dog isn’t just proficient at sitting, staying and shaking a paw — she’s apparently a hard worker, too.

Reeg’s daughter, Madison, recently tweeted a photo of her dad’s favourite employee. It shows four, framed ‘Employee of the Quarter’ certificates, with each one featuring Meeka’s goofy mug. She’s even proudly holding a ball in her mouth in one of the photos.

Reeg told The Dodo that when he was transitioning to working from home, having a dog nearby made a real difference. “Having a faithful companion in the office certainly helps,” he said.

He said that he uses Meeka as a sounding board to work through problems, map out a customer solution, or even practice a sale pitch or presentation.

“She’s not easily impressed or swayed,” he said. “All she hears is ‘blah, blah, blah, Meeka’ — but she likes to hear my voice and I love that she pays attention. Having her in my office all day is something that we both look forward to.”

Reeg’s higher-ups commend Meeka’s stellar performance. “He sends an update after every quarter,” one person told the website. “Meeka is an outstanding support to Michael and his work. Dogs are the best.”

Reeg can count on Meeka to show up for work every single day. Meanwhile, his wife’s dog, Kya, only comes to his office the odd time.

“I haven’t decided yet if the prestige is going to [Meeka’s] head, or if Kya feels disgruntled,” Reeg said. “Maybe a change is needed for one quarter, so that Meeka doesn’t feel entitled. I want her to stay sharp.”