Dogs at work?

[sam_gordon]

I don't think allergies are covered under required accommodations

That's all I'm asking. Why some folks seem to think I'm attacking them is beyond me.

 

[wilkeliza]

That's all I'm asking. Why some folks seem to think I'm attacking them is beyond me.

Shockingly it appears allergies can fall under the ADA (it isn't 100% clear) but since the ADA only requires reasonable accommodations be made then the size of employeer comes into play. Say 1 person has allergies and 1 has a service dog. Then it becomes very tricky because severely allergic person could be given their own office, be on far end of office away from service dog, but even if person A is still having debilitating allergies the employeer can not force person B to remove their dog. On the other hand is person A has the debilitating allergy and persons B-Z have dogs and bring them in but are not service dogs. The accommodation could be legally forcing the policy to change to be 0 dogs allowed. At that point would person A really want to be known in the office as being the reasons why person B-Z now aren't allowed to bring their dog to work. Basically there is a very fine line to walk if you are new to an office that has a policy that works against your allergies.

 

[kimblebee]

Shockingly it appears allergies can fall under the ADA (it isn't 100% clear) but since the ADA only requires reasonable accommodations be made then the size of employeer comes into play. Say 1 person has allergies and 1 has a service dog. Then it becomes very tricky because severely allergic person could be given their own office, be on far end of office away from service dog, but even if person A is still having debilitating allergies the employeer can not force person B to remove their dog. On the other hand is person A has the debilitating allergy and persons B-Z have dogs and bring them in but are not service dogs. The accommodation could be legally forcing the policy to change to be 0 dogs allowed. At that point would person A really want to be known in the office as being the reasons why person B-Z now aren't allowed to bring their dog to work. Basically there is a very fine line to walk if you are new to an office that has a policy that works against your allergies.

I wouldn't give two figs about making people keep their dogs at home. But, if the job is advertised as dog friendly, I'd steer clear of it in the first place. To accept a job at a dog friendly place and then try to make everyone keep their dogs at home is petty imo..

 

[leebee]

Nope, no dogs/cats at work for me. I'm allergic to dogs, and I don't care for them. When we go to our friends' home for dinner, I have to take significant allergy meds before we go, because they have 2 golden retrievers. I know people love their dogs but I'm just not a dog person, so even if I didn't have allergies, I wouldn't think this was a good idea. I'm not a fan of the smell, the sniffing 'you know where', the hair on my clothes from the dogs rubbing against me to be petted (because dogs always know if you don't like them, so they try so hard to make friends). I deal with it because I choose to go visit my friends and spend my free time with them, but I think work is a different situation; being able to earn a living shouldn't hinge on my ability to tolerate someone's pets in the workplace.

 

[bookgirl]

Nope and I wouldn't. Just my opinion. Not saying it's always wrong or right, just not something I would do.

Seems to me if you are allergic to dogs and knowingly accept a job at a pet friendly work place, it should be up to you to deal with the consequences of your own decision.

One of my newest employees is highly allergic to dogs (asthma inducing). We have Reading to Dogs one night a week and do have service dogs come in occasionally and she knew that though we didn't know about the asthma until after the hire (not that it would have mattered) She can also react to some scents or chemicals.

1. She is never assigned to work the evenings the dogs are here.
2. She wears an inhaler on her person at all times.
3. Everyone knows if a service dog enters the building to let her know so she can leave or avoid the area.
4. If we figure out something bothers her (like the whiteboard cleaner) she avoids it and we don't use it till she leaves the area.

It works fine and she is proactive without it being burdensome to others and we try to accommodate her whenever possible.

 

[rigs32]

I'm allergic to dogs and our office windows don't open, so if dogs were suddenly alllowed in regularly, I'd have a problem. Benadryl helps alleviate the insanely itchy eyes, but also puts me to sleep. Non drowsy meds don't really do the trick. If I didn't have allergies, I wouldn't mind if noise and smell we not a problem.

I know a few people bring their dogs in if they are working the weekend, but the only one on my floor keeps her dog inside her office and I've never been working when she's had the dog there.

 

[rascooby]

I was the Social Services director for a nursing home for several years. My Great Dane and Sheltie were both certified therapy dogs. I brought my Dane to work with me once a week and my Sheltie every once in awhile. No one seemed to mind and the residents loved it. Our administrator was very happy to have them. I had my own office, so if I needed to, I just stuck them in my office for a bit.

I haven't worked since I had kids 13 years ago, but I am getting ready to have my current Dane certified as a therapy dog so we can do some nursing home visits. I miss that!

 

[3boymthr]

A former co-worker and her children raise bunnies. Cute, benign beautiful show bunnies. She brought a bunny to work one day because she's meeting up with a lady at lunch to sell said bunny. Said bunny was very cute and quiet and well behaved as it bounced around in it's cage beside her desk occasionally munching on it's lunch. I've never held a bunny, may I, I ask. How soft as I reach out and pet said bunny. oooh, I'm itchy, giving back the bunny. ummm, my hands and arms are turning red. We think you're allergic say my co-workers. go wash quickly they say. Run to the bathroom and wash my hands and arms and brush off my clothes. Hey, you've got bumps all over your arms say my co-workers. Guess who spent the rest of the afternoon scratching and developing hives. And I grew up with animals on a farm and have pets of my own so turning up allergic was a bit of a surprise. So I vote no, no pets on a regular basis, or at least definitely not in an office or place that caters to the public. You never know when someone is gong to turn up allergic to something and for some people it could even been a deadly reaction. OTH - if you work in a job where contact with others is limited or animal are a normal/expected part of the job, such as at a vet or a farm etc then go for it.

 

[scrapquitler]

Molly went to the vet on Wednesday and was spayed, micro-chipped, and had 5 stubborn baby teeth extracted! I asked permission at work to bring her in Thurs. and Fri. so I could keep an eye on her. She is a Mal Shi, and never barks and has been good as gold! She is enjoying the extra attention from everyone.

Have you ever taken your dog (or cat!) to work with you?

TC

I don't have a dog because I dislike dogs, mostly because my grandfather's aggressive dog bit me and terrorized me for years and I'm afraid of most of them (they lived next door). If I worked somewhere that my boss or co-workers was bringing their dogs with them to work, I'd be looking for a new job.

I do have cats, and I would never consider bringing one of them to work.