Dog at Work????
vgmill
9 Posts
This is really crazy.......Does anyone have any information on policies or osha standards or health department standards that would prevent an employee from bringing their dog to work? This particular employee happens to be a physician and is bringing their new puppy to the clinic. Who would think this would ever happen? They didn't ask permission; just showed up with a new puppy. I heard about it through the grapevine. Obviously, we don't have a written policy on this. I would never have thought this would happen. Not sure how to handle. Help!!!
Comments
However, I must add, this is Arizona.
In the January 2008 issue of Arizona Employment Law Letter, check out a column that employment law attorney Justin Pierce (with Ford & Harrison in Phoenix) wrote, titled, "We're going to the dogs!" In the scenario he was exploring, bringing two terriers to work could lead to issues under the ADA and the FMLA as well as workers' comp. As a subscriber, you have access to the article in the newsletter archives. If you have trouble finding it, let me know. tk
(615) 661-0249 x 8068
John Phillips
Editor, Tennessee Employment Law Letter
Miller & Martin
The dog is a maltese very small and stays in 1 office with the employee.
They are both great stress relievers and alot of people are surprised in a good way when they see them.
As far as policies, they are that the employee must get approval ahead of time and state if it is to be temporary or permanent(usually temporary). We have the right to revoke this priviledge at any time. We do state that at any given time no more than 3 animals are allowed on the premises and they must be trained. As for safety issues they are not allowed in the plant, they are not free to roam the offices with the exception of the company cat who has been a pest deterrent.
I know in the heyday of the dot com boom, it was not unusual (so I have heard) to let employees bring their pets (usually dogs) to work. The idea being that these employees were often working long hours and it helped them to have the pet at work with them.
Our library has a cat and I love it. My kids love it. I think pets in the workplace can be a positive thing if its carefully thought through and everyone is on the same page.
At minimum, you might consider a policy now that the issue has been brought up. You might even involve the physician who brought the puppy. Ask him or her what they think would be a fair policy that would not compromise the health, safety, and productivity of your environment.
If you google "Pets In the Workplace" you will find a number of policies from other organizations.
I like this line from one policy " For the purposes of this policy, pets are not snakes, ferrets, rats and spiders."
They left out alligators.
best wishes.
My husband had a co-worker who used to bring his dog to work and then leave it in his truck all day. He made sure to go out and walk it several times a day, and he left the windows down a crack and left water for the dog, but the dog got bored and his favorite "game" was to lay low in the seat until some unsuspecting person walked close by the truck and then he'd jump up and bark at them, startling them. I'm surprised nobody ever complained to management or called animal control or anything like that.
Anyway, we had to develop a policy that only approved guide dogs could come into our practice. The doctor was not happy,but his staff was happier not having to deal with the poop.
PS: I'm a dog person and I would love to have my guys at work, but not everyone feels the same!!!!