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Original poster

Dogs in the office

443 replies

banjocat · 17/01/2024 15:39

I've recently started at a new workplace.

Someone in the same office but from another team brings her dog in, and has been doing this since before I started.

It's a very large open plan office, around 30 computers in there, and also members of the public come into the front area (where there is a customer facing desk).

I have mild dog allergies. Not to the extent that it really causes a problem, but if the dog came and sat near me (which he sometimes does) I have to move away from him.

Despite my allergies I do like dogs, but I suppose I'm just surprised that no one mentioned or checked with me that there would be a dog in the office. With such a flow of staff and people through the space, there are bound to be people with allergies or other problems wtih dogs - I'm kind of surprised that this is allowed and just seems to be in place every week.

I don't feel I can say anything without it creating bad feeling as it's an established routine now and lots of colleagues love the dog.

Are dogs in the office becoming the norm now?

AIBU to think it's a bit rude not to check with everyone who is working there?

OP posts:
KarenNotAKaren · 18/01/2024 19:22

SwimmingWorrier · 18/01/2024 19:10

His business that he built from scratch. Clever bloke who employs who he wants to employ.

Edited
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Yeah it doesn’t matter how clever you are it doesn’t give you a right to break the law . If you want to own a business and employ people you are legally obliged to not be an ableist cunt, wether you’re clever or not and wether you built the business from scratch or not, no one is so special they get to forgo the rules.

Also he doesn’t sound very clever - he’d rather let go a skilled employee who could make him good money because they don’t like dogs in the workplace? Sounds thick as fuck to me

SwimmingWorrier · 18/01/2024 19:10

KarenNotAKaren · 18/01/2024 17:53

You say that like it’s a criticism?

your boss is a prick.

Yes I am passionate about ableism - someone has to be. So telling when people are far more offended at the stand et “dogs don’t belong in an office” than they are are ableism on the workplace.

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His business that he built from scratch. Clever bloke who employs who he wants to employ.

baileybrosbuildingandloan · 18/01/2024 19:03

mayasternn · 17/01/2024 15:53

Well they probably did check with everyone who worked there but you didn't work there at the time Hmm get a different job if you don't like the office dog

So an allergic person accepting the job, leaving their old job etc without being informed is all right in your view?
Why is that all right?

baileybrosbuildingandloan · 18/01/2024 19:01

A dog caused my adult DD to be hospitalised last year as her asthma attack became dangerous. To not tell you prior to your interview was very remiss of them. With my daughter it's their spittle as well as fur/ dander.
What a rotten position to be in.

bringincrazyback · 18/01/2024 18:27

Livelifelaughter · 18/01/2024 18:02

@bringincrazyback because it's not about the dog it's about op's career...

Yes, it is, and she shouldn't have to go to the lengths of daily self-medicating in order to do her job.

ichundich · 18/01/2024 18:11

Dogs in the workplace are now 'common' - WTAF?! I'm glad my employer hasn't jumped on this stupid bandwagon and hopefully never will!

EvergreenHouse · 18/01/2024 18:10

KarenNotAKaren · 18/01/2024 18:06

It’s one of those smells that stays in your nose as well and you get home and think “I can fucking smell it!”

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It is the one smell that makes me retch immediately!

KarenNotAKaren · 18/01/2024 18:06

EvergreenHouse · 18/01/2024 18:06

Wet dog is the worst smell in the world. And I work in the NHS and have smelt quite a few interesting odours over the years.

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It’s one of those smells that stays in your nose as well and you get home and think “I can fucking smell it!”

EvergreenHouse · 18/01/2024 18:06

KarenNotAKaren · 18/01/2024 13:44

That’s nice.

He will still smell of dog, and it’s a horrible smell. Why should other people put up with that?

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Wet dog is the worst smell in the world. And I work in the NHS and have smelt quite a few interesting odours over the years.

EvergreenHouse · 18/01/2024 18:04

ArabellaScott · 18/01/2024 09:51

This thread has made me realise that I should have checked with others before taking my dog into the office. And that I won't take the dog in again. So it's been useful for me, OP. Hope you get the situation sorted out.

You sound great. It is good to know there are some respectful dog-owners around.

KarenNotAKaren · 18/01/2024 18:03

Livelifelaughter · 18/01/2024 18:02

@bringincrazyback because it's not about the dog it's about op's career...

So remove the dog from the situation then. Job done

Livelifelaughter · 18/01/2024 18:02

@bringincrazyback because it's not about the dog it's about op's career...

EvergreenHouse · 18/01/2024 18:01

clickifyouwanna · 18/01/2024 08:01

The workplace has changed beyond all recognition since I started work - you either embrace these changes or you lose talented team members. We work in a shared office - the dogs pull people together - give them a reason to chat, they break the ice, improve the working environment, they make people smile - unless you have an allergy or are a dog hater it's a good thing. My dog likes nothing more than sleeping, so he's under my desk on his bed not bothering anyone - people only know he's there when I take him out for a toilet break and they like to stop for a chat and a pat.

Plenty of talented employees won’t want to work in an office with dogs too. An employer is foolish to prioritise dogs over skilled employees.

I can’t get my head around people needing their dog with them 24/7. It’s just weird.

It is maybe a post pandemic introversion thing? People don’t know how to talk to others, so have the dog there for emotional support? I don’t know.

KarenNotAKaren · 18/01/2024 17:59

Taking antihistamines every day is really not very good for humans.

Why is no one suggesting the solution of - the dog stays at home?

bringincrazyback · 18/01/2024 17:58

Livelifelaughter · 18/01/2024 17:56

I would take an antihistamine and not say anything, you will end up looking churlish.

Why the hell should anyone have to stuff themselves with drugs just because their colleagues have no consideration for others?

Livelifelaughter · 18/01/2024 17:56

I would take an antihistamine and not say anything, you will end up looking churlish.

EvergreenHouse · 18/01/2024 17:53

ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ123456789 · 17/01/2024 20:51

Personally I feel like there is no place for dogs in the workplace.

There are a number of risks associated with having a dog in the office other than allergies.

What if there was a fire and getting your dog delayed you or someone else exiting the building?

What if there was a medical emergency and the dog got in the way?

Most offices do not allow you to let you children under your desk so why should they let your dog in?

It's a health and safety nightmare.

Frankly quite unprofessional and would put me off ever working for a company that allowed this.

This is from someone who works in a global organisation working with colleagues from all around the world.

Don't have a dog if you can't arrange somewhere for it to be during the day.

I wonder how on earth these people coped being away from their doggies in the workplace previously?

KarenNotAKaren · 18/01/2024 17:53

SwimmingWorrier · 18/01/2024 17:38

@KarenNotAKaren my boss wouldn't employ them. He would make another excuse why they didn't get the job.

You are very passionate about this debate.

You say that like it’s a criticism?

your boss is a prick.

Yes I am passionate about ableism - someone has to be. So telling when people are far more offended at the stand et “dogs don’t belong in an office” than they are are ableism on the workplace.

Gingerbee · 18/01/2024 17:51

KimberleyClark · 18/01/2024 07:57

The public sector organisation I used to work for used to regularly let police sniffer dogs in for practice. Used to love watching them practice!

My friend has a retired sniffer dog. He is a gorgeous dog but does have a habit of sniffing bags of strangers and barking to alert his owner. It makes you see people in a new light!

EvergreenHouse · 18/01/2024 17:47

MySugarBabyLove · 17/01/2024 17:32

Having said that, I also think that people should be told if there are assistance dogs in the office, because some people have severe allergies and wouldn't cope with a golden retriever/ lab.
It baffles me the amount of people who bang on about allergies. It’s a common ploy which taxi drivers use to refuse to carry guide dogs, something which is illegal. And as a result there is a scheme in force where a taxi driver who has severe allergies to dogs is required to have an allergy exemption certificate which they are required by law to present.

Want to guess how many taxi drivers in London hold an allergy exemption certificate? 7.
Want to know how many guide dog owners have been refused by a taxi driver? Many because of allergies? 75%.
J

I have never encountered this anti dog sentiment anywhere other than on MN. And judging by the amount of people I am constantly having to ask not to stroke/distract/feed my guide dog it just doesn’t ring true that the world is full of allergic dog-phobes.

I don’t think everybody is allergic or phobic in that sense. I don’t like dogs because I find them dirty and don’t like them nuzzling my feet, property and clothes. There are many reasons that people dislike dogs. I imagine allergies are the minority.

having said that, it is ok being around well-trained dogs, including assistance dogs. But I don’t think dogs in an office should be running around. I occasionally work at a GP practice and they have a therapy dog in the meeting that runs up and jumps up at you as you enter the room. I don’t think that is appropriate as not everybody is ok with this.

Secondstart1001 · 18/01/2024 17:42

@KarenNotAKaren made even worse by the fact the owner had a seat! And the dog has a dog bed in the office that he could have been shifter to! Yes your Sil sounds out of order too really … not a way to treat a guest no matter how close you maybe. It’s the same if we have guests and not enough room .. tell the kids to shift or sit on the rug or grab a cushion to sit on.. all a bout a bit of respect

Gingerbee · 18/01/2024 17:39

Please can I take my doberman to work with me. I am sure he would sit quietly in my classroom😂

SwimmingWorrier · 18/01/2024 17:38

@KarenNotAKaren my boss wouldn't employ them. He would make another excuse why they didn't get the job.

You are very passionate about this debate.

EvergreenHouse · 18/01/2024 17:38

mayasternn · 17/01/2024 15:53

Well they probably did check with everyone who worked there but you didn't work there at the time Hmm get a different job if you don't like the office dog

It is mad that so many people think a dog should take precedence over an employee🤯

KarenNotAKaren · 18/01/2024 17:35

kisstheblarney · 18/01/2024 16:59

Also in OPs case the dog is already in the office, so it would seem the consensus is that people are happy with it!

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It doesn’t matter - OP isn’t happy with it and she’s ‘people’