Dogs in offices

[ApplePenPineapplePen]

RANT: I do not understand how or why it became acceptable for people in office jobs to take dogs to work. A workplace is no place for pets. Get a dogsitter or don't have a pet or change job. I don't want their hounds near me i don't want their hairs on my office chair. Am I being unreasonable to think the starting position should be no animals in offices? Rant over.

More calmly, I have 2 reasons that I want to avoid dogs - a severe allergy plus a previous dog attack leaving me generally nervous and stressed around dogs. Work is aware of my allergy and now office returns are being discussed, some measures are in place to minimise my exposure.

But what if that weren't the case though and I just didn't like them? Is it for the individual to check if there are animals in the office before they accept the job? Or should employers disclose in job ads?

Of course I exclude guide dogs/hearing dogs or similar.

AIBU to think the default position should be no dogs in offices?

@PaperbackRider

Places where dogs might go into ‘the office’ include; Restaurants Cafes Pubs

You think people can or should have dogs when they are at work in restaurants, cafes and pubs? So your waiter has a poodle trotting along side while bringing your food, and the chef has a great dane on the countertop?

Whether they ‘should’ is irrelevant and not for me to decide. They certainly can. Most pubs locally have resident dogs. Most are not poodles; labradors, Springers, GSDs, JRTs. I can’t think of any pub without a resident dog. Living rurally, it’s about having a guard dog as well, I imagine. Most local cafes have water bowls and dog treats. Our social club is called The Kennels. Dogs are very welcome in the bar and restaurant and many have their own, named, enamel water bowl. The resident dog wanders around freely, but prefers being outside on the terrace.

God I'd love it if people brought dogs to the office

Some people have very strong opinions about how other people choose to work!

I am entertained at the idea that the people saying "live and let live" are the selfish ones and the people saying "everyone must run their office to my preferences regardless of whether I actually work there" aren't.

There's plenty of call for dog friendly offices, so some people favour them. Plenty of call for dog free offices too. I imagine both situations will continue.

[quote Pinkpaisley]@randomkey123
You do realize that any one of those job applicants could bring a discrimination claim against you and you would very likely lose.[/quote]
On what grounds?!
Not liking dogs isn’t a protected characteristic

I am entertained at the idea that the people saying "live and let live" are the selfish ones
I am entertained that you can't see that the ones saying live and let live are advocating that their wishes are the ones taken into account.
The irony!

It's a yes to dogs in general in offices then?

Tell me what happens in the event of fire in a high rise building then. There's usually one fire lift even in very large offices, and they're often quite small. Having people with dogs going down the stairs is not going to work as it would be dangerous with so many people quickly evacuating.

I really want to know how this is going to work with a host of general pets in there and not just the occasional person who needs a guide or assistance dog.

Remember the Tatler dog that got killed in the office revolving door? You'd need a heart of stone not to howl with laughter!

On what grounds?! Not liking dogs isn’t a protected characteristic

No, but discrimination on health grounds (asthma and other allergies) could be a problem.

???

You're lovely aren't you

@katy1213

Remember the Tatler dog that got killed in the office revolving door? You'd need a heart of stone not to howl with laughter!

I'd imagine you'd need a heart of stone to think it was funny,

I think someone is trying to throw a bomb into an already lively thread!

Best ignored from all sides I think.

I interned at a place that had a bring-your-pet-to-work day once every 2 weeks. In my time there, someone's new Pomeranian puppy was 'banned' due to it barking the whole day, someone's cat was 'banned' because god knows why, and someone was the subject of a complaint because their desk neighbour was petrified of their pet snake. It was... strange.

I'm very allergic to dogs. So wouldn't want to see dogs in my work place. It's not even just the days they are in, but if they are shedding then I can still get a reaction a few days afterwards.

If my employer decided that they would now allow dogs into the office it would have a detrimental affect on me.

@cupsofcoffee asthma isn’t a protected characteristic either, nor are most allergies. Unless it has long term impairment on peoples ability to carry out day to day activities. For 99% of sufferers of both it won’t be.

I am entertained at the idea that the people saying "live and let live" are the selfish ones and the people saying "everyone must run their office to my preferences regardless of whether I actually work there" aren't.

@Stompythedinosaur but you haven't said "live or let live" you've said you think people with fears or apologies should get over it and that someone's pet should have more rights than an employee. You can't understand why everyone doesn't want to welcome smelly slathering mutts into the place they have to carve a professional career 40 hours a week. Can I bring my snake? Or my child? If not why not?

I know what you are saying op, it’s not fair if you have allergies. However some people on this thread sound like such miseries. I have noticed it’s a certain type of person that doesn’t like dogs, for no particular reason. They are often uptight/and or clean freaks, neurotic..I swear it’s true.

@gingganggooleywotsit

I know what you are saying op, it’s not fair if you have allergies. However some people on this thread sound like such miseries. I have noticed it’s a certain type of person that doesn’t like dogs, for no particular reason. They are often uptight/and or clean freaks, neurotic..I swear it’s true.

Not all people against this hate dogs, though.

[quote 21Flora]@cupsofcoffee asthma isn’t a protected characteristic either, nor are most allergies. Unless it has long term impairment on peoples ability to carry out day to day activities. For 99% of sufferers of both it won’t be.[/quote]
It may not be a "protected characteristic" WRT the Equality Act 2010 but a dog allergy becomes an impairment if you bring a dog into the workplace, meaning a person could take legal action under the very same act if this happened.

@Stompythedinosaur

Some people have very strong opinions about how other people choose to work!

I am entertained at the idea that the people saying "live and let live" are the selfish ones and the people saying "everyone must run their office to my preferences regardless of whether I actually work there" aren't.

There's plenty of call for dog friendly offices, so some people favour them. Plenty of call for dog free offices too. I imagine both situations will continue.

Agreed. Certain people on this thread furious at the thought of dog-friendly offices even though they themselves don't work in one and have never encountered one.

I don't hate dogs. I just don't like most of them. Learn the difference.

It's strange that on MN you can I say "I hate other people's Kids" and everyone nods along, but say "I hate other people's dogs" and suddenly you're neurotic/have OCD/have deep seated issues/are a Nazi.

Some fucking weirdo's round these parts

Certain people on this thread furious at the thought of dog-friendly offices even though they themselves don't work in one and have never encountered one.

It's so boring when people look at a thread asking for one of two opinions, and they attribute the party that has the 'no' opinion to being 'furious'. No one is furious. There's not fury. People have just said they don't agree with it

YANBU, I like dogs and am fortunate enough not to have any allergy. I would like to have a dog one day.

But I've known a few people who keep their dogs in their offices, and the smell when you walk into those small, enclosed rooms is overwhelming. It depends to an extent on the size and breed of the dog but the simple fact is that dogs have an odour and in small spaces it quickly becomes a problem. Yuck.

@FrangipaniDeLaSqueegeeMop

Certain people on this thread furious at the thought of dog-friendly offices even though they themselves don't work in one and have never encountered one.

It's so boring when people look at a thread asking for one of two opinions, and they attribute the party that has the 'no' opinion to being 'furious'. No one is furious. There's not fury. People have just said they don't agree with it

This, in spades. Such hype! 😂

@FrangipaniDeLaSqueegeeMop

Certain people on this thread furious at the thought of dog-friendly offices even though they themselves don't work in one and have never encountered one.

It's so boring when people look at a thread asking for one of two opinions, and they attribute the party that has the 'no' opinion to being 'furious'. No one is furious. There's not fury. People have just said they don't agree with it

The sheer volume of posts you've made on this thread, as well as the swearing, suggest to me you're pretty annoyed.

I worked with a GP who bought his dog to work and it slept under his desk 🤣. Patients loved it.