is this disability discrimination or okay to ask?

[ATempUserName]

Not sure if I am being oversensitive and not sure what to do.

I had an interview for a sideways / higher level position in my current public sector organisation. Different department.

I have an assistance dog. Nearly everyone in the company knows I have an assistance dog. No problem taking her to work etc but having one does seem to be preventing me from moving up the ladder, into jobs that will be more client engagement.

Prior to the interview, my current line manager told me to 'leave the dog at home so it doesn't distract the interviewers'. (my dog was unsettled in a previous unsuccessful internal interview, but it was a very small room with a lot of passing 'traffic' and 'noise' outside. I wasn't comfortable in that room either!)

And in this week's unsuccessful interview, I was asked by the interviewers (who both see me every day as we're in the same building albeit different floors) if my dog "goes everywhere with you" I answered yes, and they said "Okay just wondering" but it made me uncomfortable and I wonder if it played a part in their decision.

I think I gave a really good interview, I felt confident, so I'm not sure what reason they will give for my lack of success. I have a feedback interview in 2 weeks (interviewer on leave). Should I say something?

Any advice appreciated. I've been there 14 years (not always with an assistance dog) and I've had lots of problems re: my disabilities and do seem to have developed a reputation as a complainer as a result.

Having said that OP, I won’t respond anymore. I have no desire to be a pain, just find it frustrating and rude to do the whole ‘seek advice, reject it all, get deleted, try again’ schtick when people have been kind enough to help (and very detailed help from the last thread).

But people can make their own decisions whether to respond or not. All the best.

If you work in the public sector why do you also refer to your employer as a company?

Just to add to Lettice above, if you are public sector you should have have an Equality and Diversity champion for your department you could speak to?

I've lived with Guide Dogs who don't need a mat to lie down on and wouldn't become unsettled in the situation you describe.

I think a potential employer would be stupid not to ask if your dog went everywhere with you. That's a fine question to ask, nothing wrong there. And it may just be they found a better suited candidate to the role, regardless of your situation.

I would ask for feedback and take it from there. If the feedback is "we can't take you because you have a dog for assistance" then that may be totally appropriate, it may not. But the question was valid imo.