Dogs in the office

[banjocat]

I've recently started at a new workplace.

Someone in the same office but from another team brings her dog in, and has been doing this since before I started.

It's a very large open plan office, around 30 computers in there, and also members of the public come into the front area (where there is a customer facing desk).

I have mild dog allergies. Not to the extent that it really causes a problem, but if the dog came and sat near me (which he sometimes does) I have to move away from him.

Despite my allergies I do like dogs, but I suppose I'm just surprised that no one mentioned or checked with me that there would be a dog in the office. With such a flow of staff and people through the space, there are bound to be people with allergies or other problems wtih dogs - I'm kind of surprised that this is allowed and just seems to be in place every week.

I don't feel I can say anything without it creating bad feeling as it's an established routine now and lots of colleagues love the dog.

Are dogs in the office becoming the norm now?

AIBU to think it's a bit rude not to check with everyone who is working there?

The workplace has changed beyond all recognition since I started work - you either embrace these changes or you lose talented team members. We work in a shared office - the dogs pull people together - give them a reason to chat, they break the ice, improve the working environment, they make people smile - unless you have an allergy or are a dog hater it's a good thing. My dog likes nothing more than sleeping, so he's under my desk on his bed not bothering anyone - people only know he's there when I take him out for a toilet break and they like to stop for a chat and a pat.

It's pretty unrealistic to check every employee for allergies

Not when you allow allergen animals to be permanently in the workplace

Do you work in an office - private sector?

I also don’t have sympathy for people who say “I couldn’t work if I couldn’t bring my dog into work”.

So de when does the ‘right’ of your mutt to follow you to work trump the right of human employees?

If your dog isn’t well cared for our trained enough to spend the day alone or you don’t at least do hybrid working then you need to get a new job

I think you should have been told and I think dog friendly offices should have dog-free zones so I’d be gently bringing that up at some point

There’s loads of people they just don’t say anything.

I also don’t think “as long as they ask when you start” is good enough. No one wants to ruffle feathers in their new workplace before they even have their first day!! I would also think if a new manager said “Are you OK with dogs in the office” - I don’t know if it’s her who is bringing the dog in or the kind of place where, if I said “No” then everyone would be told.

Maybe YOU work in a shitty place where HR gossip to all of the staffing body but doesn’t mean OP does

The thing is I can (and do) avoid dog friendly cafes. I couldn’t avoid the workplace.

I can’t say I’ve seen it as common. In my last job one bloke would bring his in during school holidays because his wife was a teacher and wanted “a full break” in the holidays. TBF it was a little spaniel thing that caused no bother bad was walked regularly. It just stayed by his owners feet all day, didn’t bark, and was in his office (that was just his) not open plan so it didn’t bother me

In your opinion. I have to say I’m very suspicious of people who prefer dogs over people and children

Yes have done for 35 years and never heard of dog friendly offices

Assistance dogs are essentially an extension of the employer because they need them to move around. So that dog technically has as many rights as an employee.

A dog who an owner just doesn’t fancy leaving on its own is utterly incomparable

Mr Monkey did a temporary cover job for a small business where the owner and his wife gushed about how informal their office was and how much staff loved the fact they brought their dog in - it "brought staff together".

In reality it was a poorly socialised pain in the arse and staff hated the damn dog, but didn't say anything for fear of pissing off the (rather volatile) owners.

@KarenNotAKaren indeed. Working dogs are a completely different ball game.

I grew up on a farm and my dad would not allow people to come to the farm yard with their dogs (they had to remain shut in the vehicle). Our working dogs were well trained around the animals and responded to his call, he could not guarantee that would be the case for other dogs and would not take the risk.

People are allowed to hate dogs, and who can blame them.

I don’t actually hate dogs but I have a special rage for OTT dog people who think everyone is delighted to have the dog slobbering and jumping all over the place. I used to like dogs but it’s increasingly hard with entitled selfish owners

How can people with allergies stop having allergies?

I’ll tell you what with the amount of shitty posts on this thread I’m pleased I don’t have allergies!

Someone actually thinks it’s their right to bring flowers in on their desk even if someone nearby has terrible hay fever? Selfish, selfish fuckers.

Oh I HATE that, why do owners let it happen?! I used to take my DC to a great hairdresser who then employed someone who brought their dog into work. I didn’t know and when I went in for their haircuts, this great lib lab came up and stuck its head in my crotch (also on my period) so hard it hurt me. And my DS is scared of dogs so we had to leave - if you think people are shorty towards allergic people you should see the sneering the horrible dog crazy bunch do at children with phobias. The new hairdresser actually laughed at him panicking and said “You’re scared of Fred?! You big Wally, hes super friendly”

My son was 3

My DS and DC are allergic to cats and whilst the kids aren’t too bad if my DH is even in the same room as a cat he struggles to breath and needs his inhaler.

I don’t get this “OP should have declared her allergy”. Why? No one expects a surprise dog in their new workplace! Should people with cat allergies also declare their allergy? Or allergies to bananas, or gluten?

I don’t think they should ask when you start. That’s too late. They should ask before hiring you.

If they withdrew a job offer because the OP Has allergies that is discrimination!

And how would you feel if a colleague brought in a massive bunch of polleny flower everyday and plonked them next to you and didn’t give a shit when you said it flared up your allergy?

I have found over the years that large bunches of flowers regularly make their way into the office, and yes I think I would look like a nob if I said “can you please remove the flowers for Jan’s new baby/Sarah’s Birthday/Katie’s new job”

Like I said most allergies are manageable with antihistamines and people just get on with life.

Wrong.

Perfectly acceptable to request reasonable adjustments. It’s called ‘the law’

Your office sounds like a very unprofessional place to work.