Dog policy at work

[Americaherewecome]

Does your employer have one? Do you have any experience of writing one?

We need one for our business; any suggestions gratefully received.

TIA

Some Muslims believe dogs are dirty and shouldn't be indoors. Not all, obviously, but for some Muslims it would be a deal breaker and I can see how someone would potentially be able to get a discrimination case. I live in an Islamic country and the local people who have dogs keep them outside (unless they're puppies) and they told me very early on when I asked it was because their belief in Islam means they can't have them indoors as they are considered dirty. However, they absolutely love cats here.

I've also worked in an open plan office at a "cool and trendy" start up where dogs were "allowed" but in reality it just meant that the Directors got to bring in their smelly dogs (to non dog people!) and those of us lower down the pecking order just had to put up with it. I can't imagine that there was any consideration given beyond "we've got dogs, let's take them in to the office then it's easier for us" sort of thinking.... suffice to say, I left the company a few months later, but I still regret not speaking up at the time about my dislike of the dogs. I was at the start of my career and didn't feel my view would impact the decision anyway.

Do you also need help with writing a policy on roller skating or fireworks in the office?

this entire discussion is summarised in this clip from silicon valley 😁

m.youtube.com/watch?v=DQST52x826M

Yes we have a policy, which covers insurance and cleanup etc and yes we allow dogs in our office. We always have and anyone who wants to work for us is informed of that before they decide to come to interview. No one has refused yet and many see it as a bonus to be able to bring their dog.

We have a separate meeting room where the dogs cannot go for anyone coming for meetings who is allergic/doesn’t like dogs but no one has ever wanted to use it in 10+ years. The vast, vast majority of people want to meet the dogs and I often don’t see mine all day because they are sat on someone’s lap, encouraged into a meeting room, or in a bed under someone’s desk (which the employee has bought themselves and put there to encourage the dog to stay). My experience is that MN hatred of dogs isn’t reflective of real life.

I don’t have strong feelings about dogs, but you can see from some of the responses here just why people don’t speak out when they don’t like initiatives like this. It’s not ‘hatred’ to feel that dogs don’t belong in certain places or to prefer not having them around all the time. I do hope a business wouldn’t take the approach of some posters on here and just dismiss anyone not on board as a killjoy or in a weirdo minority that can be safely ignored.

Also feel for anyone who has to work in a smelly office. So, considering not only having a policy but also having the will to enforce it is vital - and those are totally different things ime.

Petiquette at the biggest pet food manufacturer.

probably not in the kitchen
under control
i think the policy will need to be flexible

You could do an anonymous survey/ feedback form to ask your staff about the policy. That way you’ll find out what people actually think.

It might make a 'lovely emvironment' for you but for plenty of people it would not. With the exception of service dogs, having a pet dog is a personal choice and should not be imposed on others in their workplace.
Dogs in workplaces should NOT be a thing!!

I say this every time this comes up as a dog allergy sufferer (and tbh as someone who just can’t stand the beasts, they stress me out, are unpredictable and unhygienic but allergic always seems more palatable somehow), you wouldn’t put nuts out in the staff room if one of your colleagues had a nut allergy, so why would you think it is okay to bring animals. The allergy is real, you cannot simply “take a Benadryl”, I took 3 once when I was in a doggy environment and still suffered for 3 days afterwards, and there is no such thing as a hypoallergenic dog!

If people want animals, they need to leave them at home where they belong else make provision for them. No one is allowed to bring their actual human babies to the office so why would a dog be allowed? Nonsense honestly

If my workplace brought in a dogs-allowed policy, I’d be handing in my notice! (Yes, I’m one of those people.)

well that is why the office policy would have to be flexible
a dog is allowed unless people object
seems fair enough

I’ve worked in a building where management brought dogs. I didn’t mind but pretty sure the carpet was 50% dog hair.

I worked in a small office where one worker brought in their dog. On the whole people were positive about it but the biggest problem was when the owner had to go to a meeting and the dog would be leashed to the desk and make little whining noises. So, consider what would happen when the owner is in a meeting and not able to monitor the dog.

Also, the office did smell of dog first thing in the morning before the windows were opened. Turns out it's very hard to stop that happening especially if the dog moults a lot.

I don't think you can generalise what an entire religion thinks like that at all

The problem is, what is nobody does at present but then a new employee or an intern arrives?

Why though?

I really hope this isn't the office I work in. <vom> The smell of dogs makes me nauseous. And they all smell. The owners are just nose blind.

I think you have to consider the world "hatred". Perhaps others just don't share your dog love. It's not hatred to want to have a dog free working environment. It's a professional choice.

I'm going to say fine, just not in the kitchen? Who isn't cheered up by fireworks or doing a bit of roller skating? I don't get the hatred.

This. Dogs are bloody everywhere now. There is no need for them to be at work unless they are an assistance dog....and no , ' emotional support dog is not a thing'. Leave them at home

Pets, like children, should not be in the workplace. I love animals but I would not work anywhere that allowed peoples dogs in the office. It’s bad enough when you go to a dog friendly cafe, the smell of damp dog 🤢

my hair dresser brought her dog to work
i see no problem personally

I work in the City, and in my building (very central right next to Liverpool Street station) which we share with few other companies, one of them, not sure which one has some sort of policy as people bring their dogs into the building all the time. Doesn't really bother me to be honest. We are the only finance company on this building and the rest is some sort of marketing and media so way more casual than us.

I just think certified assistance dogs only. I don't want a dog in the office & some people might be allergic.

Ensure its certified assistance dogs. Where we are, everyone is buying fake 'assistance dog' vests, claiming they're for anxiety.