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?

@Serpenta I'm only annoyed at the people with the ignorance/cunty-ness of telling those with allergies they don't matter as much as a colleague's animal and that they should 'get over it' WRT their allergy.

Sorry mum

@FrangipaniDeLaSqueegeeMop A reasonable adjustment would be a pet free zone, not removal of all pets!

I just don’t understand why people expect an entire organisation to change. I am allergic to cats so wouldn’t take a job in a vets, however good it was, because I’m allergic to cats. At some point personal responsibility has to come into it surely. If you go for an interview and there are lots of dogs, maybe accept that it might not be the job for you!

I worked in a place that had an office dog. He was so lovely! When anyone was stressed or needed to clear their head, they’d take the dog for a walk.

Our boss wasn’t too keen to start with ( it a ‘dog person’ apparently).

Very soon after he started coming in the dog realised that the bosses office had a lovely window where the sun shine through. We once found the dog in the bosses room with the boss (a vicar) reading out a sermon to him (and asking his opinion).

The little children in nursery would beg to come up with the Head when she needed to visit the office to see the dog (the dog lived with a family and was used to having lots of children around).

It really was lovely to have the dog there - he had a very calming influence (and our scary stalker was scared of him).

You expect to find animals in a vets, so I'm not sure where you're going with that one.

Furious? Not at all! Just baffled at first as it's not something I've ever come across in any place I've worked, or when visiting other offices.

Then surprised it's so widespread.

Then a bit taken aback about the not mentioning it in job ad or interviews. And someone saying they would sack someone.

I don't hate dogs I'm just not that keen. Bitten twice as s child. I'd rather not be wary but that's how it is.

They seem to be a bit of a trend in architects firms these days.

I like dogs, and if my job didn’t involve me working away so much I’d have one! But taking them to work is bullshit. Even aside from the fact some people are frightened or allergic, there is just no reason at all for them to be in the office in the vast majority of cases.

I’m honestly stunned reading this thread that so many places seem to allow it.

Our office was tiny - just 4 of us. And as I said - we had an office stalker (aggressive, threatening man) and he was scared of the tiny wee dog (thank god).

[quote 21Flora]@FrangipaniDeLaSqueegeeMop A reasonable adjustment would be a pet free zone, not removal of all pets!

I just don’t understand why people expect an entire organisation to change. I am allergic to cats so wouldn’t take a job in a vets, however good it was, because I’m allergic to cats. At some point personal responsibility has to come into it surely. If you go for an interview and there are lots of dogs, maybe accept that it might not be the job for you![/quote]
But these aren't jobs in vets people are talking about - it's big standard offices for tech companies and the like. Where is the need for an animal to be there? Is it so much to ask to put human employees first?

I work in PR and this is quite common in smaller
Companies. I've had several jobs where the boss has brought in their dogs. I'm not a fan of dogs but as long as they behave I don't mind.

@FrangipaniDeLaSqueegeeMop You made a point about employers needing to make adjustments. Why would a vet be exempt?

But why can’t people take personal responsibility for themselves and instead of putting other people out, just not apply for the job?

I’ve never worked in a job where dogs weren’t allowed to be in the office. I can’t understand why anybody would apply for a job that they knew would make them ill. It’s such entitlement to expect everyone else to change their lives. What do you expect all the people who have dogs and have found a job that specifically lets them bring their pets. Rehome them because it’s cruel to leave them for eight hours? Why do your needs come before others?

Why would a vet be exempt?
Are you suggesting a vet should agree not to treat animals if an employee is allergic? You can't actually be serious, can you??

A vets entire purpose is to treat animals. This place is like the bloody Twilight Zone sometimes 🤯

Why are we all supposed to love fucking dogs so much?
Agree with your post.
Everywhere I go people push their stinking dogs on me.
Pub garden, walking in the country side, On town streets.
Not everyone likes dogs or wants them approaching them in any social setting.

@gappyvalley

It’s disability discrimination. Some people really are that allergic.

@GreyhoundG1rl I was making the point that based on another posters post about all employers legally being required to make adjustments, it makes no odds whether it’s a architects or vets.

I like that you ignore everything else I say every time though

I don't agree with anything else you say, 21Flora...
But the vet thing is sublimely ridiculous.

I think it’s blummin selfish of people to being in their dogs to be honest.. had this happen a few times where I used to work and although everyone knew I had severe allergies, it was allowed to jump up at me several times. I had to take an antihistamine and spent the rest of the day rubbing my eyes until my eyelids bled.., but some people don’t seem to factor that in and think everyone should love their precious dogs..! (And no I do not hate dogs, I love most animals, but my skin doesn’t!)

You made a point about employers needing to make adjustments. Why would a vet be exempt?

Surely this is obvious?

Someone with a dog phobia or allergy could reasonably (and lawfully) be turned down for a job working with animals. My friend worked as a lab assistant and was let go as it turns out she was unknowingly allergic to many of the substances she handled. This is a reasonable cause for dismissal as it was in her best interests.

Animals need to be in vets. They don't need to be in an architect's office. The rights of the human should come first - not just first, the 'rights' of the dog and their irresponsible owner shouldn't even come into the picture in a workplace.

How is this not obvious?

What do you expect all the people who have dogs and have found a job that specifically lets them bring their pets. Rehome them because it’s cruel to leave them for eight hours?

It's really not my problem. Nor is it the problem of the owner's employer

Why do your needs come before others?

🤣🤣🤣 SERIOUSLY?! In a workplace I have employment rights. A let of a colleague doesnt. That's why my needs come before others

[quote Pinkpaisley]@gappyvalley

It’s disability discrimination. Some people really are that allergic.[/quote]
A dog allergy is a registered disability?
You sure about that?

@GreyhoundG1rl

Why would a vet be exempt? Are you suggesting a vet should agree not to treat animals if an employee is allergic? You can't actually be serious, can you??

A vets entire purpose is to treat animals. This place is like the bloody Twilight Zone sometimes 🤯

It really is!! Why do people think "owner too tight/lazy/irresponsible to sort their dog being looked after during the day" = "the dog needs to be in its owners' workplace"

Vets need to see animals.

People in tech companies do it need to see animals.

I'm actually quite shocked that I have to explain this.

[quote 21Flora]@GreyhoundG1rl I was making the point that based on another posters post about all employers legally being required to make adjustments, it makes no odds whether it’s a architects or vets.

I like that you ignore everything else I say every time though [/quote]
The key word here is reasonable adjustments.

It's not reasonable to make adjustments for allergic/frightened employees in a business where the sole purpose is to be exposed to animals the whole working days

It's reasonable in an office where animals don't need to be to make adjustments for employees with allergies/phobias - in other words, tell your employee to leave the dog at home because an actual person is suffering with it being in.

@GappyValley it would be considered an impairment in those circumstances, also protected u see the Equality Act 2010

@FrangipaniDeLaSqueegeeMop I’ve never worked in an office that didn’t allow dogs in 15 years of working. I genuinely don’t understand why you’d want to work in places like this, it’s clear you wouldn’t fit in to the companies.

One office a lady was scared of dogs, she sat on her own away from everyone else, can’t have been much fun! Your rights don’t mean that dogs can’t come if the owners want them, it just means you can sit on your own in a ‘dog free zone’ as an adjustment if medically required.

Realistically though, if you kicked up a huge fuss in the first few weeks of working because you don’t like dogs when the owners and employees all have dogs - is it likely you’d pass probation?

You don’t have to have a “registered disability” to come within the Equality Act.