Now expected to walk my bosses dog at lunch.

[Rose785]

My boss started bringing her dog in maybe once a week. She works through lunch so she can leave work an hour early. I like to walk at lunch time. She asked if I could walk her dog and I genuinely didnt mind to begin with. But now she's bringing her dog in 3 or 4 times a week and now just expects me to walk her dog on my lunch break. I am a very busy mum so my only time to get my steps in is during my lunch and I find the dog annoys me by constantly stopping to sniff and slowing down my pace as well as picking up the poo which isnt my own dog is unpleasant!!! I finally said no when my boss asked me the other day and she was like oh please just a quick one! And it's now just irritating me that I have to walk her dog on my lunch when I just want to be on my own and decompress from being a busy working mum. it's getting to the point where I am thinking of possible ways and lies of getting out of it.
AIBU to feel this way. And if not any advise. It is my boss and I love my job but it's getting to me now.

Sorry boss I need to nip into the shop.
Or sorry he slows me down too much
Or no I'm not walking today I'm going to read my book

I bet after a few days of no she'll stop bringing the dog.
I'm assuming she your boss but not your employer.

WTH. Not that it makes a difference but I'm assuming this is a small business?

You need to stand your ground and say no, and maybe you should also start keeping evidence of the requests and you saying no in the event she decides to retaliate and tries to make your life difficult at work for refusing to work her dog.

She is taking the piss massively, she should not be expecting her staff to walk her dog and pkc dog shit at all unless you were hired to be a dog walker. She definitely has some guts.

She’s just a bitch and you just tell her walking her dog isn’t in the job description but I no you can’t say that. Does your company have HR department. If not just keep saying it’s not in my job description, ha ha. Know, not no

If you struggle with a flat no just stop walking for a few days - have lunch in the office. I bet it won't take long for her to stop bringing the dog and then you can go back to your usual routine. (if she asks just say you're going to the cafe next door and they don't accept dogs).

This is a good suggestion and if not foung out isn't an option for start I would probably start saying you're meeting a friend for lunch/going to a shop where they don't allow dogs.

I bet you anything she used to pay for a dog walking service and has now cancelled it. I would say outright no and that you feel it’s inappropriate for her to ask you.

*if not going out isn't an option for you.

I should probably go back to sleep as i clearly can't type 😁

This is a great response but I would put it in an email so there's a paper trail. You can include the offer to walk the dog during work time if you like, but you need to make sure your workload is reduced accordingly.

Well, technically you're working through your lunch too.

So just grab your things and leave at the same time she does. 🤷‍♀️

This is very true.

Juts say you’re going to do a few things and won’t be dog friendly.

If I was being asked to walk the bosses dog, Id happily do so.

Then return it and then go on my own lunch break

You just have to have the slightly awkward conversation.

Send an email - 'Hi boss. I have decided that going forward I won't be able to walk your dog at lunch time as it's no longer convenient for me. Thanks, Rose'

She might be grumpy about it because she's a piss taker - that's not your problem. If she asks again after you've sent the email just be consistent in saying no, it doesn't work for you. You'll feel awkward about it but you're not doing anything wrong and don't have to feel bad.

Say you'll only walk the dog during work hours

I would just say no. Leave it at that. Say nothing else. It's a few seconds, but seems like ages,of excruciating silence but keep silent. She will get the message.

YABU but you need to state your NO much more assertively. Don't give in.

Start working through lunch so you can leave an hour earlier as well ,and do your walking when you get home and hour earlier
What's good for the goose and all that

just say no because you are power walking and the dog stops all the time to sniff and poo/wee your not able to get the distance you want

Firstly its far to hot at the moment to be walking a dog at lunch time. Secondly that is your lunch break it is your time to do what you want not for you to do what your boss want you to she is majorly taking the piss.

I wouldn't do it for free during my lunch break. That's 'you' time to de-stress and run errands. If you were up for it you could suggest doing it during your working hours. Also, most professional dog walkers have insurance in case anything happens to the dog or it causes an accident - is she going to pay for that? You definitely need to shut this down.

just say no, no need to make an excuse, it’s not your responsibility to walk the dog. If you don’t I can see Boss will be asking you to do other tasks, eg having dog while on holiday, for the day when boss goes out, you will be washing her car and mowing her lawn next 😂

She's asking you to do additional work and unpaid.

It is unlawful to expect an employee to work for more than six hours without a break of 20 mins minimum.

What does your contract say about exclusivity of service. If it doesn't have an exclusivity clause I'd say I'd take the dog out for 30 minutes and it's £15. If it does, you cannot do other work.

"it's my break. I didn't mind doing it as a favour occasionally. Now it's impinging on my break and feels like it's become work meaning I don't feel I get a break. So no I will not walk you dog because I'm on my lunch break".

I really don't understand this trend of bringing their dog to the office. Office next door to ours someone brings their dog to the office and it's one of those small yappy dogs and barks whenever someone walks through the hallway on the wooden floorboards.

It’s ok to say ‘I can’t walk your dog anymore. It’s taking up too much of my lunch hour’.

Or a breezy, ‘You’ll need to take him yourself’
or
’No can do, I’m working through lunch’
or
’You need a dog walker. I don’t have the time to keep doing you favours’
or
’I didn’t mind doing this once or twice, but this is eating into my own personal time’
or
’You’ll need to start taking breaks if your dog needs walked. I can’t keep doing it for you’