Dogs in the workplace

[SilverGlitterBaubles]

We are due to return to the office on a more regular basis. This is causing an issue for some people who have got lockdown puppies who can't be left at home alone. Some have suggested that they might take their dogs to work with them. In an open plan busy office I am not quite sure this would work especially with more likely dogs, plus where do you draw the line if there a few dogs in and/ or other employees are not keen on the idea? Just wondered what the thoughts are and if anyone has experience of this. TIA

I love dogs but my initial reaction is a hard no because I don't think my choice to own a dog should be a consideration for my employer or something I impose on other people.

I wonder how employers deal with having service dogs in the office if they also have staff with either allergies or a phobia.

It's bonkers. Workplaces are not there to provide daycare, it's up to the owners to deal with that, or if they can't then they shouldn't have a dog. Thank god I don't work in a place like this, couldn't stand it - the noise, the stink, the disruption. It's a bit sad really the way things are going in that people are almost regarded as secondary to dogs in this kind of situation, in hotels,cafes, pubs, restaurants, and increasingly in shops. None of those places get my custom any more, but it's getting to the stage where it's hard to find places that DON'T allow dogs. (oh and by the way instead of saying 'pets' allowed - just be honest and say DOGS out - would these places allow people to take their snake/horse/rat/other alternative pet in there?)

depends on the dog and also how old/well behaved that dog is. Once over the puppy stage my dog would sit under the table (as she does in pubs/cafes) and no-one would probably know she was there.

But people should have thought of this when they bought them and asked their employer what their policy is.

One of the dog food companies (maybe purina) have produced lots of documents about this including policies and risk assessments

people are not stupid to bring dogs to work
people have been bringing dogs to work since way before this pandemic

Our offices have been dog friendly for about 4 years.

The dogs have to have a trial period first, and there's a rota, so a maximum number allowed in on any one day.

There are dog free areas, and one of the lifts is dog free as well for people with allergies.

I like having them around, although I've never brought my own dog in as she's a bouncy excitable knobhead who would show me up something rotten

My work is open plan and allows dogs but the rules are strict and are enforced. Several dogs have been banned from being in the office when their owners didn't train them well. This is a similar policy to the one we have in place: static.vets-now.com/uploads/2020/08/VETS-NOW-dogs-at-work-policy-2020.pdf
We also had some areas of the office that were specifically not dog friendly, including some meeting rooms. It works very well and it's lovely having the dogs there

I wonder how employers deal with having service dogs in the office if they also have staff with either allergies or a phobia.

We had a blind colleague with an assistance dog. It was no issue because (as with all officially provided assistance dogs) it was extremely well-trained and sat quietly under the desk waiting to be needed. It never strayed from the colleague's side so didn't impose on anyone who couldn't tolerate dogs.

That's a very different scenario from a pet dog which is unlikely to be trained to such rigorous standards. Also, the average workplace isn't likely to have many employees with assistance dogs whereas there might be dozens of pet dogs.

Anyone who got a dog during lockdown must have known they would need to return to the office at some point so would have to find dog care? Just like anyone having a baby would realise they needed childcare an their return to work?!

They do have a statutory right to make a flexible working request to work from home permanently if they want to stay at home- employer does not have to agree though.

I would not be happy with dogs at work and nor would my clients- unless it was a well trained assistance dog (we do have one of those at work) as I am allergic and most dogs I have come across would not be able to sit quietly for 8 hours!

I love dogs and have them but I would not want dogs at my office. It's just not the place for them. What if somebody gets bitten? Who are they going to sue? What is somebody is uncomfortable around dogs or has Allergies? What if 2 dogs don't get on? What if something happens to a dog in the workplace? Is the employer responsible?
I think bring your dog to work if you are a park ranger. Make appropriate alternative arrangements if you work in a big open planned office.

assistance dogs (like mine) yes - they should be in the office (legally allowed)

Pets no

@traka

It sounds like you work with a lot of very stupid people

Obviously they didn't consider that at some point in the near future they'd have to return to work

I wouldn't want any dogs in my workplace. I think it's unprofessional. If you have a child, can you bring them in as well?

Well they were mostly ok but I think over lockdown some people's sense of home and work being separate and the need for professionalism has become a bit blurred.

What if somebody gets bitten? Who are they going to sue?

If dogs were to be allowed, it would have to be a condition that owners had 3rd party liability insurance in place and that this covered the workplace.

Standalone 3rd party insurance is quite cheap for most dogs - it's not like full insurance where pre-existing medical conditions ramp the cost up - so cost needn't be a barrier.

DH has worked somewhere that allows digs for years. There are rules. But the consequence of that is all the dogs are trained from puppy hood to be allowed to attend.

Rules include making sure they can't escape their owners space having a back up person to care for their needs when the owner is on a meeting etc, dogs who don't get along being kept separate, misbehaving dogs getting banned, having to be walked at lunch time, and signs on doors so people knew they were there.

DH shared an office with a lovely Springer for a while. Complete maniac. Had the pleasure of his company for a week while his owner was on a Course and honestly looked forward to his office hours for a breather. Apparently he used to sleep most of the day in the office to give himself more energy for the evenings.

We had a blind colleague with an assistance dog. It was no issue because (as with all officially provided assistance dogs) it was extremely well-trained and sat quietly under the desk waiting to be needed. It never strayed from the colleague's side so didn't impose on anyone who couldn't tolerate dogs.

I understand this but it doesn't address the issue of people wth allergies or phobias. Service dogs are indeed well trained but for people with allergies or phobias the simple presence of the dog will be an issue.

I couldn't bring my dog in as she's a barking asshole but dogs can massively improve wellbeing and mental health so I'd be all for office dogs (with certain behaviour stipulations).
I do think employers should be doing more to support staff as life can be hard for so many people.
At my friend's office they put loads in place to make life easier for employees, including:

1. True flexible working hours
2. Medical appointments can be taken at any time as well as parents eves, school plays etc.
3. Dogs allowed in the office.
4. Car washers come in weekly.
5. The office cleaner can be hired to clean employees' homes too (employee expense).
6. Laundry and ironing service (employee expense).
7. Work from home days when needed e.g. waiting in for a delivery.
8. Meal delivery services available so on some nights she orders tea to take home for her family.

It makes her life much easier.

I understand this but it doesn't address the issue of people wth allergies or phobias. Service dogs are indeed well trained but for people with allergies or phobias the simple presence of the dog will be an issue.

I suppose this depends on the severity of the allergy/phobia and the size/layout of the office. Our office, though open-plan, is huge - it wouldn't be difficult to make sure anyone who couldn't tolerate the dog would be seated far away from it.

It would be far less likely for an assistance dog with planned seating to come into contact with someone, than they would be likely to come into contact with dogs in day-to-day life, passing dogs on the street or on public transport.

My colleague bought her dog in yesterday. Its lovely when he comes in. He should come more often

We've had office dogs for about 23 years.

It started when we moved offices to my business partners home and he said he was bringing his dogs in from then on and others could too. I wasn't entirely happy but was rather out voted as he was a business partner and I wasn't (at that point).

We've really never had any issues apart from too many dogs coming in occasionally, again because he was dogsitting a mates so brought in 5! On top of employee dogs we had 8 at that point and it was really stupid but not a lot you can do when the owner is the problem. Employees, I've found, have always been fair and reasonable. In fact, that week, one employee left her dog at home as even she said it was crazy. If people are fair and reasonable and stick to common sense rules, it can work well.

We have 5 in our office. They're a bloody nuisance but I love them.