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?

@Jagoda the dog isn't an assistance dog, so I don't know why you keep going on as if it was.

The ideal scenario here is that OP doesn't need to take ongoing medication because of her workplace, either achieved by a) OP and dog owner coming into office on different days ( best solution if everyone else loves the dog) or b) the dog not coming in what with it being a public sector workplace and all.

Completely different scenario if the dog is an assistance one - but it isn't!

My service dog adores kippers...

If it was an assistance dog, the employer would need to figure out how to accommodate both employees. Possibly Adjusting locations, setting routes for each to travel around the building, assigning wfh and office days, and most obviously, an assistance dog wouldn’t be wandering around the office.

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.

And MN seems to be the only place that experiences all these dog friendly offices.

As I have said, my service dog adores kippers...

I can understand them not telling you in advance, or advertising it in anyway because it would open them up to a charge of discrimination.

And I can understand them not telling you after you were hired because that could make work for them.

So yes, it’s shit of them, but the onus is on you now to tell them there’s a problem. Would you prefer to work from home, or alternate days with the dog? It’s a reasonable adjustment.

So ridiculous that people are arguing actual human beings working in the business should leave so that someone can bring a dog into the office and save some money 🤣 why would a dog even want to sit in an office all day, it’s not the right environment for them. I can’t imagine how distracting it must be when it’s running round going crazy, seems like a complete drain on efficiency.
Super unprofessional that they didn’t advise you of their dog policy beforehand. If they don’t let you work from home, I’d argue constructive dismissal and leave.

I did not know of this development

Totally agree.
I can't stand dogs and if I started a job then found out there was a regular canine visitor I'd hate it. But you have to pretend it's OK or people think you're evil incarnate...

Actually I'd probably have to say I don't like dogs and could they please keep (the mangy thing) away from me.

It would irritate me to see everyone cooing over a dog too, like they've been lobotomised or something.

Most service dogs are a different matter, they should be well trained and stick to their owners.

The current trend to treat dogs like babies is nauseating.

I don't really understand dogs in offices. I have two and just can't imagine them sitting quietly under my desk while I work an eight-hour day. I WFH so they are under my desk most of the time but they also get to roam round the garden, they can explore the house whenever they feel like it, and they can snooze in a number of different places!

My boss brings his in but goes on walks and only expects them to chill for a few hours. When I had to bring one of mine in this afternoon he chilled for three hours on a big dog bed. Any longer than that he might have started to be a pain. My other dog would have been a nightmare.

So true 🤣

I love my dog but I agree it should be checked with all the staff. Some people are terrified of dogs.

I would at least tell them you have allergies and if the dog can be kept away from you🤷‍♀️

Yes and she should do just that.

I work in a dog-friendly office, and I take my dog to work. Dogs have been shown to have a lot of benefits including increased morale and office attendance.

For my job, it was very clearly stated in the job advert, and mentioned in both interviews, that there are dogs in the office. In all job adverts we state that you must be comfortable with dogs in the office - so anyone who isn’t, simply wouldn’t apply. If you ignored this, got to interview or offer stage, and then said you weren’t comfortable with dogs, you wouldn’t be hired.

Part of the reason we’re so clear on it is because there are some people in the office who would not continue to work there if dogs were banned, and they are valuable to the company! It was a big draw for me when considering the job.
It’s not as simple as “free doggy day care” for me - I’ve previously worked in offices where I couldn’t bring mine and coped fine - it’s a massive quality of life booster for us both.

You absolutely should have been told before you started so that you could either not apply for or not take the job, but YABU to think that new starters should be able to waltz into a company and ban dogs if they feel like it.

You can “just about tolerate a guide dog” @KnickerlessParsons -how magnanimous of you!

@banjocat , they should have mentioned it when you interviewed, so feed that back. But if it’s a dog friendly office and most people are happy with that it is a bit entitled of you to expect it to change just for you.

It would however be totally reasonable to say you have allergies that are making work difficult, so coule you please work at opposite ends of the office and can they keep the dog on a lead. It also shouldn’t be going up to people unless invited to do so, that is a training failure.

I don't get the "dogs don't belong in offices". If the company allows it, they allow it. You might wish they didn't, but it is what it is.

We always told everyone about dogs before their interview in case they were allergic. Ar interview it was blindingly obvious dogs were allowed..the boss used to ask them if they wanted to bring one too! I would internally wince at the thought of more!

But, taking the number we had out of the equation, because that had become silly, I do think they are a good thing if well behaved and trained.

They are happy and generally delightful to have around and they are calming. Walking them at lunchtime is healthy for all. And I say all.of this as someone who has never had a dog myself.

Exactly what @Missola said. How can you argue that a person should leave their employment so that a dog can continue to stay there. The job is for the person. If a dog never went into that office again it would make no difference whatsoever.

If someone wanted to bring in their child, especially a younger child who cried and was disruptive, because they didn’t want to or couldn’t pay for childcare, everyone on here would say how it’s not the rest problem, sort out childcare or leave the job.

Dogs don’t belong in office environments, doesn’t matter if they’re the specially bred, tiny, labradoodle bla bla bla (the kind that don’t even resemble dogs anymore, poor buggers), they just don’t belong.

The OP should have been told. You need to speak to Occ Health OP. You shouldn’t need to take antihistamines every day to be able to work.

Our office is dog friendly but people tend to only bring their dog in occasionally. Having a dog allergy must be very tough given how popular they have become.

Personally I feel like there is no place for dogs in the workplace.

There are a number of risks associated with having a dog in the office other than allergies.

What if there was a fire and getting your dog delayed you or someone else exiting the building?

What if there was a medical emergency and the dog got in the way?

Most offices do not allow you to let you children under your desk so why should they let your dog in?

It's a health and safety nightmare.

Frankly quite unprofessional and would put me off ever working for a company that allowed this.

This is from someone who works in a global organisation working with colleagues from all around the world.

Don't have a dog if you can't arrange somewhere for it to be during the day.

Absolutely ridiculous and totally unacceptable.

I'm so shocked by this. I love dogs. However I have never worked in an office that allows dogs.

Is this post-COVID? Or has this been going on a while in businesses?

All the hyperbole is too funny. The boss allows the woman to bring her dog. End of story. It's just more whining about dogs and it's so boring!

Ours had had dogs for over 20 years when I left. They still have now.

It's a small office with about 6 staff.

Dogs are not like children!

Yes, this! I didn’t know it was a thing.

I like dogs very much but I do sympathise with the OP, who either puts up with the situation or says something to her boss (which she has every right to do) and risks becoming unpopular with the folk who enjoy the dog’s company. Rock, hard place.