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?

I think you have the right to complain but it's up to you to tell them you have an allergy, they might be accommodating. I don't think I've ever been asked if I've got allergies in a new job so I don't think the onus is on them

I just think it was a bit shit of management not to have a conversation about it and give me a heads up, and most people who have voted agree with me, which is what I was interested to know.

I've often wondered this about the Civil Service and No.10 cats. Lots of people have cat allergies...are they just not able to go in particular parts of the building etc and avoid the bits where the cats lurk? Did they warn people before they got the cats? Is there a risk assessment etc?

@banjocat

You have my sympathy. At the very least this is something that you should have been told about in advance so that you could have decided whether or not to take the job.

As an employer, over the years I have had people ask if they could bring their dog to work and I have always said no. I don't think its appropriate in the first place and its unfair to those who have allergies, or just don't like dogs, to expect them to have to share their space with dogs.

Although assistance dogs are the exception of course.

But if someone’s allergic to dogs or scared of them, then that will still be the case if the dogs an assistance dog or not surely?

I think personally anything out of the norm should be mentioned at, our prior, to the first interview and then each person can decide whether they are the right ‘fit’.

If they'd told me at interview that it was a dog-friendly office, I would have told them that I had allergies and judged their reaction. I would have requested to be allowed to work from home whenever the dog is there.

If they had been inflexible on this and told me I had to work in an office with a dog, I might well not have taken the job at that point.

In which case, I assume the OP filled it in and can request an OH assessment and ask for reasonable adjustments

And whilst many claimed hypoallergenic dogs are not, I can confirm that some definitely are. Such dogs were deliberately bred as service dogs for people with allergies. Even the guy who originally succeeded in this isn't a big fan, but they do exist so you are wrong on that point.

I always have doubts about these "entitled dog owner" threads. I haven't yet ever come across an office that allows dogs unless they are service dogs, and no service dog would roam. But in this case the person bringing their dog had to have permission - is a bit bloody hard to hide the fact. So if their employer has given permission, then it is neither entitled nor an assumption.

Oh I wish they allowed dogs in my workplace! As you don't stroke the dog you should be fine - I am allergic to cats - I am ok in the same room but can’t stroke them !

In this situation it's not an assistance dog, so it's irrelevant.

But in a situation where you have someone with an assistance dog and someone else with a serious allergy/ phobia, neither would take priority. They are both health/ disability related needs.

As an employer with these two people in your team, you would have to find a workaround by having them work in different offices, have someone work from home, etc.

Hmm. I see. So in your own words you have a mild allergy to dogs. Given the number of people with disabilities who have service dogs, I assume that you ask at every interview whether there are service dogs in the workplace and then demand the right to work from home?

My service dog loves mackerel and kippers...

I wasn’t replying to you. I was responding to a comment by somebody else on the thread that an assistance dog would be different. So my comment remains relevant to the quote I made, thank you.

And yes but as you’ve said, you don’t plan on raising it. I do believe this will increasingly frustrate you though.

I don’t like dogs.
It seems very unpopular to say that but that’s how I feel.
I’m not comfortable around them, don’t enjoy them jumping up at me, I get quite frightened and I don’t like getting slobber on me or the smell of dogs.
I would not want to work in an office that had a dog/dogs there all the time. I’d be upset if I found myself in this position too OP. I guess there’s not much you can do though.

YANBU OP - at the very least you should have been informed when offered the job that there was a dog in the office and did that cause you any concerns.

Many people have allergies and other are frightened of dogs. The workplace is not an appropriate place with them unless every single person working there is in agreement with it.

In our major global corporation they are trialling dogs in once per week.

People have raised concerns about their allergies getting worse - were told office was fully cleaned and they could just avoid coming in that day ( we have new in office targets so that's not realistic for many people) .

Pictures of one of the dogs actually sitting on an office chair - just not appropriate, and is the extra cleaning even going to cover that.

In our place its all just a massive attempt to try and detract attention that they're getting rid of all the actual things that impact people's happiness at work - flexible working and wfh - with some free jazzy attempt to seem cool.

It might be different in a non office environment.

I have a dog btw.

Or by not employing one of them. You didn't declare this "severe" allergy to dogs, did you?

If I started at a new job and there was a medium sized dog like a lab/ golden retriever unexpectedly sat next to me in the office, I wouldn't be able to work there. So yes, I would be asking to be moved or to work from home, because it would impact my health.

Assistance dogs aren't magically hypoallergenic and my health needs don't change for them so I simply wouldn't be able to do that. It's not about not liking dogs (I love them) or not accepting assistance dogs. It's just how my body reacts to them.

I ask again. Did you declare your disability?

@Neriah I'm getting a bit bored of repeating myself - read the thread.

Well no. Because the person who is, for example, blind, cannot take a tablet and suddenly see.

Mild to moderate allergy can be mitigated by antihistamines. Severe allergy would be triggered even if dogs weren’t present but dander was on clothing. Very few people are so allergic that they can’t continue normal life and most of these will end up being unable to work outside the home sadly.

However, to get back to your AIBU, yes, you are, because you can take tablets and will be fine. Consider yourself more fortunate than my DB who will never see his DC again.

OP is there any way you can ask to avoid being in on the same day as the dog (and it's owner) ?

I honestly don't think you should have to sit there and suffer, it's so unfair for you.

The whole country has gone fucking bonkers with regard to dogs. Glad I'm retired because I couldn't work in a place that allows them. I would take it up with management and say you object. It is a workplace for humans. There's already no getting away from the fecking things everywhere else, cafes, shops, hotels etc. None of them get any business from me.

Even if she hasn't filled one out, she can ask for an occupational health assessment (called a management referral) anyway if she wants to. The onus is then on the employer to arrange one or not.

Anyone with a health issue, mild, moderate or severe, can request an OH assessment if they feel their condition will impact their job.

How interesting.....🧐

My first thought was a baby gate for your cubicle. 🤣 I'm sure that is unreasonable/unrealistic.

What a difficult situation to navigate. Best of luck 🍀🙂

I appreciate your situation, OP. Any chance your role will accommodate some home working? If yes, raise it gently with your manager.

I don't feel it's fair you are having to take medication so someone has the option of bringing their dog into work for their convenience/pleasure rather than out of necessity.

Where I worked in 2003-4 there was an office dog. However I was told about it at interview stage. In fact I met it at my interview! I think it's lovely to have a dog, or dogs, in the office but I agree it should have been explained to you during the interview process.

I’d love it but knowing my team I couldn’t cope with the constant complaints so I’m quite glad we can’t. Costs me £20 an office day for dog Walker! I do think you should have been notified at interview or upon taking the dog. I guess if someone is severely allergic will have to stop