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?

Sadly this is just one of many cases where people with allergies in the workplace get turned into pariahs for speaking up. You really don’t have a choice though. You are entitled to employment without getting sick every day. You need to speak to hr. Make it their problem to provide you with a safe workspace. Depending on the severity of your allergy that could range from dog-free zones and increased cleaning to banning dogs.

What happens if the pet bites someone ?

Does the employer get sued for not having a safe working environment and does their insurance cover that ? Or is it the owners responsibility ?

I really don't understand those people saying I could have chosen not taken the job had I known.

The only reason the dog is there is so that someone doesn't have to pay a dog walker/ pet sitter. The office isn't advertised as dog friendly and no one else brings their dog.

IMO if a staff member with a dog allergy starts in a workplace, then a person who is using the office as free doggy daycare should be told (with notice obviously) that they'll need to find alternative arrangements.

I like dogs despite my allergies, but I am pretty firmly on the side of those who are saying offices are not really the place for them, especially if there are people who are allergic or scared of them. People come first.

Ah I would love love love it

id tie a balloon to her collar to see where she is like the office corgi on insta 😂

OP, you simply have to mention to HR, your manager or the dog owner that yu have an allergy and ask them to work with you to mitigate your exposure. You are a grown up with a job, this cannot be beyond you?

FWIW - i have a massive, MASSIVE, allergy to guinea pigs. Really badly allergic. In a previous, hot desking, job, a colleague who had 4 of them, who used to play with them before work, sat on my chair, once, during a meeting. And i had such an attack (completely unexpected) of asthma, so much so that an ambulance was called.

After that. I got a new chair. It had my name on it. Nobody who owned small furry animals sat on it because a company wide memo to that effect was sent out. And it was fine.

He also has hyper times when he runs around a lot.

That would annoy me. I've never minded office dogs but the only ones I've come across were perfectly behaved and placid. They spent all day quietly curled up by their owners. I haven't been in an office since Covid, and I bet it's a very different story now.

OP please tell them you have an allergy! It's perfectly possible to frame it pleasantly and politely - and yes, if someone in an office had a nut allergy etc then one would surely expect other staff to not bring nuts in. Don't suffer in silence!

I'm going to start bringing my 3 year-old child to work with me

It's not unrealistic. A lot of employers, especially med to large ones, want new employees to do an occupational health pre-employment questionnaire. These often ask about allergies.

if your employer is fine with that, why not? i had to do it a time or two when my DC were small and i had no childcare.

Great idea! It's the best environment for them, get them working as well to eat their keep.

I just warn you, dogs are much cuter than 3 year olds!

My boss wouldn't employ somebody who minded his dogs. You should have been told before you accepted the job though which my boss did.

But there could be a dog in any workplace at any time if you consider assistance dogs, so if it was a big deal you would have mentioned it on health questionnaires etc surely?

Colleagues bring dogs into my office I bloody love it. I know several other people whose workplaces are dog friendly now. I guess if you really don’t like it you would have to apply for a job elsewhere.

@Skybluecoat Assistance dogs sit still next to their owners. This dog walks around the office greeting people and also carrying around its slobbery toy (which people throw around the office too). There's quite a big difference.

Having said that, I also think that people should be told if there are assistance dogs in the office, because some people have severe allergies and wouldn't cope with a golden retriever/ lab.

I occassionally take my dog into work. However, I realised last week that new start doesn't like dogs, because she politely said so. I will simply not take the dog into the office again, it's really not a big deal and if someone had allergies or a phobia etc I'd really want to know that rather than them be uncomfortable. It doesn't need to be a big drama, OP. Just discuss it.

I actually did mention to the owner that I have dog allergies.

As I mentioned earlier, she believes that her dog is hypoallergenic. I told her it isn't. She said 'oh right' with a face that said 'I don't believe you'. And that was that.

@banjocat “IMO if a staff member with a dog allergy starts in a workplace, then a person who is using the office as free doggy daycare should be told (with notice obviously) that they'll need to find alternative arrangements.”

well if that’s you opinion then 100% bring it up with HR then. 🤷🏻‍♀️ not sure what you are doing here asking other’s opinions on whether it is the norm, or ok.

you know your opinion, your colleague should be asked to leave the dog at home. Go to HR and push for this. I’d be prepared to end up being a bit unpopular though

You don't like dogs, do you?

I actually did mention to the owner that I have dog allergies.

How did that conversation go? Did you say it and it was ignored and you let it drop. Or did you ask if anything could be done such as dog restricted to certain areas etc?

I think it's inconsiderate to just assume it's OK to bring your dog in when it's a large office where lots of people work, and many people do have allergies or other aversions to dogs.

if it’s any sort of assistance dog then your allergies make no issue whatsoever.

Hypoallergenic dog?!! Hilarious.

I actually love dogs and struggle to resist picking them up and stroking them when I see them (which ends up in me being a streaming mess of itchy tears).

I love kids too but likewise, I wouldn't be overjoyed if someone brought their kids into my workplace on a regular basis because they didn't want to pay for childcare.

My workmate has a hearing dog. I was asked if I was OK with that (obviously I said yes!)

I'm not a dog lover and find this taking your dog everywhere really weird. I'd like to spend all day with my cats, one is particularly needy and I have to have someone check on her throughout the day. People would think me odd if I started rocking up everywhere with them.

Dogs shouldn't really be in the workplace unless they need to be, as an assistance animal.

The dog owner? Okay, but I think you need to then raise it with managers/HR.