To love it when colleagues bring their dogs to work and want them to do it more often?

[Natsku]

I work in a factory and people sometimes bring their dogs in (not on the factory floor of course but in the office side or other rooms where they can safely be - today there's two in the women's shower room) and I love it so much as do many others. But I suppose there's a chance there's some people in the building that don't like dogs/scared of them/are allergic so don't like it, though no one has complained yet.

Most of the factory is on holiday this month so I am strongly encouraging people to bring dogs in while its quiet and less people to potentially be bothered, so I can get some canine cuddles when I need a break from work.

No, it’s not appropriate. Keep your pets at home!

Not sure if it was the same for everyone but it was made clear to me at the interview stage that it's a dog friendly workplace as the boss's dogs were at the interview and I was asked if I'm OK with dogs as they are there every day the boss is there. Assuming this is the same for everyone else that comes for an interview then they know what they're getting into it if they take the job.

I think it’s shocking that I’d be ruled out of a job because I’m allergic to animals. Fair enough I can’t be a farmer or dog groomer, but to be ruled out of an office job for an unrelated issue seems bizarre. Can’t believe it’s legal really!

My colleague sometimes brings hers to work and I find it repulsive. The inevitable dog smell (and yes dog owners, they ALL smell) is only heightened in this heat.

So if a person was severely allergic would it be discrimination if they were denied the job on that basis?

Two dogs in the women's shower room at work is rank. Absolutely no need for animals in a shower room. Is nowhere free of ruddy dogs these days?? And frankly it's no place for a dog to spend their day either. Inappropriate all round.

My employer started a policy whereby you could bring your dog in on a specific day. No problem, I'll just work from home on that day. That very quickly turned into a free-for-all, with no rules whatsoever. Dogs roaming around the office on any day of the week, jumping at people and toileting randomly on the floor. I'm now working somewhere else.

My dog comes to work with me whenever I’m in the office which is about once per fortnight. He loves all the fuss he gets from everyone. Other people take their dogs in so it’s nice when we’re in on the same day as the dogs play together for a while at lunchtime and then all have a snooze together.

This feels wrong on so many levels.
Surely it's discriminatory to exclude someone who is perfectly able to do the job because they are not able/do not want to share workspace with a dog. And as for dogs being kept in the shower room, that's outrageous.

Well this isn’t face to face where people might feel inclined to pretend to be non-commital because they don’t want to be socially awkward. Maybe THIS is the truth, and the truth is most people don’t really like dogs, no matter what you think.

See also trans rights. Theres no way I’d voice my opinion on trans rights (you’re a bloke, get out of our spaces) in real life because apparently that’s not ‘being kind’ and I can’t be bothered with the hassle. But here, I’m voiceforous.

I am allergic to dogs. People started brining dogs into my work but thankfully someone stepped in and stopped it before I did.

Perhaps it would be better to check if anyone's allergic/minds before encouraging people to bring their dogs in. As an allergic person it's not fun having to rain on everyone's parade when a practice has become established.

OMG! We had this request at our office too. I put together guidance notes and carried out a risk assessment before introducing the policy.
It's honestly been the most popular policy I've ever introduced! We received positive feedback from 98% of the office.
We now allow up to two dogs in the office each day, and we even have a doggy calendar so everyone knows which pups will be in!

I'm a cat person myself

I don't think pets belong in the workplace as a rule.

In a private business, it's up to the owner, so long as there is insurance in place then it is not my business.

I think it's often quite shit for the pets, I see so many dogs now forced into situations where they are clearly stressed.

I'm not the boss! I'm a relatively new employee here and can only assume this has been going on for a long time before I started as no one seems surprised by it

I love that it’s the most popular policy. 😂

Thank goodness my office doesn’t allow dogs. I worked in one office where someone brought a dog in and it stunk and made the whole office smell. The owner just didn’t get it, as she was used to the smell. I would have to politely ask the dogs owner to remove the dog from under my desk. I’d end up with hairs on my clothes and the dog was not averse to trying to lick me.

I will openly admit I am not a big fan, but can understand why others like dogs. They should not be in offices/workplaces/showers (unless they are e.g. a dog for someone who is blind).

Its a factory, there's lots of things that can rule you out that are beyond your control but agree allergy to dogs shouldn't be it but I don't mean someone would be denied a job for being allergic, but they would decide themselves not to continue with the process. Though that doesn't seem fair, wonder if its ever come up.

You will get flamed but actually I don’t mind it.

Some people bring their puppies in occasionally once they have had their jabs. There’s no pressure and they just put a message round that they are in whatever room if people want to come and see them.

Tbh it’s far less hassle than those who bring their babies in - dog owners don’t expect everyone to make a fuss but if you don’t pay sufficient attention to the new mother and the baby, you get judged!

The dogs aren't usually alone, they're usually either in the office side or in a closed room with a woman that loves looking after dogs but she isn't able to this morning which is why they are in the showers.

Beyond ridiculous

I went to a new job once only to find that it was open plan and there were five dogs that wandered round all day every day.
Good job I wasn’t allergic I guess!

My colleague brings her dog to work every day. She's a guide dog and she's an absolute dream - she just sits quietly under the desk. We all love her but only interact if her harness is off. I'm not sure I would be so keen if the dog wasn't so well behaved

I don't bring my kids to work either and think that's equally surprising. My workplace doesn't allow children on site (though people obviously sometimes bring a new baby in for a KIT meeting or something) and theoretically don't allow dogs either but there is a member of staff who just ignores that. I had to meet with him one day and had to go home with an asthma attack. Ridiculous.

the boss's dogs were at the interview and I was asked if I'm OK with dogs as they are there every day the boss is there

As if you're going to say in an interview situation that you're not OK with dogs.