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

But these offices aren’t. The business owners have decided they want dogs to be included. There are plenty that don’t do this.

@Tippytappytoes

PaperbackRider

But these offices aren’t. The business owners have decided they want dogs to be included. There are plenty that don’t do this.

Which doesn't negate the point at all.

@Tippytappytoes

PaperbackRider

But these offices aren’t. The business owners have decided they want dogs to be included. There are plenty that don’t do this.

The business owners are discriminatory idiots. That's the point. If you want a business focused on dogs and not people open a groomers or a dog walking service. If you have an actual business that is run by and for people, keep the hairy mutts out of it.

The fury over someone having the gall to choose to run a business with a dog-friendly office.

Why should I, is the point. Offices are for people to work in, not dogs to hang out in, and people should come first

Well, some offices are both for people to work in and dogs to hang out in. Unless it is specified by law then the company owner gets to choose.

Being able to take dogs to work was a real motivator for my dp and business partner to set up their own company. It has been a motivator for employees to join.

Lots of people have been saying this works for them and there company. None of us are saying all companies have to be dog-friendly, but the idea that no one should be allowed to be dog-friendly is bizarre. It clearly works in some offices.

But the businesses are not focused on dogs. They are focused on PEOPLE who want to bring dogs into the office with them.

@Serpenta

The fury over someone having the gall to choose to run a business with a dog-friendly office.

Yeah, imagine someone being mad about being barred from certain workplaces and discriminated against. Fucking cheek.

@Tippytappytoes

But the businesses are not focused on dogs. They are focused on PEOPLE who want to bring dogs into the office with them.

At the expense of PEOPLE who then can't be in those offices.

Which part of this are you not getting?

Different people do things differently. Life becomes a lot less stressful once you accept this. Some businesses enjoy things team building white water rafting expeditions. I shudder at the thought.

Dog friendly offices exist although they're certainly in the minority. And yet here people are frothing away. Even though they themselves are not being asked to work in a dog-friendly office.

Raging on Mumsnet for the thrill of it.

That I am not the centre of someone else’s universe?

Well, some offices are both for people to work in and dogs to hang out in. Unless it is specified by law then the company owner gets to choose.
You're still missing the point.

The dogs being there doesn't make it the actual purpose of the office, unlike the people who presumably perform some function in return for their salary and actually do have to be there.
If the workers were simply turning up to have a laugh and not increasing profits they'd close the place down toot suite 🤷🏻‍♀️

Different people do things differently. Life becomes a lot less stressful once you accept this

Is that what you say to people facing discrimination? Just accept it, you have less opportunities, the world doesn't revolve around you? Life will be less stressful if you don't complain about being badly treated, go away and leave us alone.
Nice attitude.

The hyperbole is impressive

I can totally see why some people would not want dogs in offices, and I speak as a dog lover and vet, whose surgery is full of staff dogs every day! I actually bring my tortoise to work too on a daily basis

An office environment is not necessarily ideal for the dogs either, depending on how it is set up. As I say, I love my dogs, but I respect other people's right to not be covered in hairs and smell like me

@Serpenta

The hyperbole is impressive

It certainly is, but not from the faction you're presumably referring to.

@youvegottenminuteslynn
@paperbackrider

We won’t be getting a new MD, he owns the company and his father before him. Staff turnover, new employees are not an issue. We all have our own office anyway. If you want to come and fuss the dog then feel free, if you don’t then stay away.

Several posters, including me, have said it wouldn’t be fair to spring a dog-friendly policy on a workforce with no warning or consultation, and many posters have given examples of workplaces where having dogs in is a benefit to the people who have freely chosen to work in that environment, but somehow that is still offensive to some.
I was once invited to apply to work in a very small company that had an intriguing policy of allowing everyone to work remotely, which at the time was quite the USP, and their recruiting pages made a point of showing team members working on laptops in beautiful, tropical locations or up in a snowy resort before logging off for the day to snorkel or ski.
In order to build better personal relationships among team members who would otherwise never see each other in person, they flew everyone into some cool location twice a year for meetings and team-building exercises, all of which sounded great. However, upon closer inspection of the pictures of previous team weeks, I could see that the activities were things like sky diving, car racing, and luging, all of which would have been outside my comfort zone.
I decided not to apply, as it didn’t seem like a good fit. However, the people who did choose to work there, knowing up front about the adrenaline-addict culture, really liked it, and the firm had a very low turnover rate, which is a very good thing for a small business.
Now, if this place had been the only place to work, or if most workplaces had similar cultures, it would be discriminatory against those who weren’t willing or able to bond in those ways. But if people who don’t want to luge with their workmates have thousands of other places to choose to work, and if that culture makes that small company a uniquely fun, stimulating place to work for some people who then repay that with hard work and loyalty, why would I argue with that, just because it’s not for me?

@PaperbackRider

Why would you even apply for a job with an employer with a dog friendly policy if you hate/fear/are allergic to dogs? Obviously someone like this wouldn’t be the best candidate for the job because they don’t fit the culture.

Because why should people's careers and work be dependent on selfish twats who want to have animals in a place where they don't belong? Some of you like dogs...well great, fill your houses with them if you like. But why should everyone else be restricted in their work because of it?
If I'm allergic to dogs why should my work life be restricted to keep daft dog lovers happy?

Well said.

Lots of workplaces have questionable cultures and practices unrelated to if a person can do a specific role , doesn't make it okay to tell people "this isn't for you then". A friend was telling me ah went to a conference where she met a hipster start up company where the employees hugged each other before they started work every day. The thought makes my skin crawl - no one should have to fit into that culture in order to be employed in a role

If you applied for a job as a waiter you'd be expected to serve wine and meat just like everyone else regardless of your personal beliefs.

@LadyWhistledownsQuill how many times - because restaurants NEED to pour wine and serve meat in order to run their business.

No non-animal related office NEEDS dogs - what is it you're not getting about the whole "dogs aren't needed" thing?

Some people never grow out of the toddler like confusion between needs and wants 😂
Some of the nonsense on this thread 🤯

[quote BellaVita]@youvegottenminuteslynn
@paperbackrider

We won’t be getting a new MD, he owns the company and his father before him. Staff turnover, new employees are not an issue. We all have our own office anyway. If you want to come and fuss the dog then feel free, if you don’t then stay away.[/quote]
Maybe I should have been clearer, I didn't mean in the case of your exact company! I would gladly come and play with the office dogs at your place because I love dogs and am not allergic to them.

If I was, I would be upset if my workplace did update their policy to allow dogs in the workplace. And I don't think the people who say 'we'll get another job then' are being fair.

I work for myself and have done for years, so I have no skin in the game on this personally. I just feel for people who are being put in situations in existing jobs where they will feel unwell or frightened at work if companies go from the default of not allowing dogs to suddenly allowing / encouraging dogs to be in the office on a regular basis.

I agree, @PippyPinky. Expecting all office cultures to suit all people doesn't seem very sensible.

@GreyhoundG1rl

Well, some offices are both for people to work in and dogs to hang out in. Unless it is specified by law then the company owner gets to choose. You're still missing the point. The dogs being there doesn't make it the actual purpose of the office, unlike the people who presumably perform some function in return for their salary and actually do have to be there. If the workers were simply turning up to have a laugh and not increasing profits they'd close the place down toot suite 🤷🏻‍♀️

This is a fundamental point - businesses need the humans running it in order to operate. Dogs are not needed.

What happened in your lives that you think you're no better or deserving of rights than a pet?

@Serpenta

I agree, *@PippyPinky*. Expecting all office cultures to suit all people doesn't seem very sensible.

But every culture should have a very basic principle of "Respects human employment rights" and "Doesn't discriminate, contravening the Equality Act 2010"

So much hate for office dogs.

Here is a positive reply:

They are great! An office dog can be a stress buster and help people bonding!

I used to own The Office Dog. He very quickly learned who liked him and who didn't- he would not bother with dog haters!
He actually turned lunchtime into fun as we went out for a walk together... and with staggered lunch the dog haters didn't have to go. But missed out on some mini adventures
He was taught to wait at my table if I left my desk without him.
He knew he was allowed to say hello to the postman but stay in his basket if clients visited.

He always knew who's turn it was for his break time treat (I didn't want people feeding him crap so we had a rota!)
He knew people's names and knew if they needed a bit of comfort because things got to stressful.

I know this particular dog was one in a million, but I'd say he added that special "extra" to our workplace!