Pets in the office – your rights and responsibilities

Many of our customers are family-run organisations and as consultants we more often than not are greeted by wagging tails when we come to visit.

If your office is in your own home or a portacabin in a yard, then bringing your pet to work seems fairly natural for most of you.

But what if you are sharing this space with staff and if they request flexibility when it comes to accommodating their doggy daycare needs?

Here are some considerations to bear in mind when introducing animals into the workspace:

Allergies and Phobias

Interestingly, only 8% of the UK population report a sensitivity to dog allergens – certainly not as high a number as we might think.

However, combining this with people who generally feel uneasy about your best friend, or have a downright phobia, chances are that someone in your office won’t be happy about having to endure non-human company at work.

Allergies and phobias are classed as disabilities so dismissing someone’s application because of it would be against the law. Instead, you should consider reasonable adjustments, which will vary according to your workplace and individual arrangements. If you are unable to leave your dog at home, maybe discuss the possibility of remote working with your team member. Or perhaps you can come to a hybrid arrangement where you don’t commit to bringing your pet in on certain days, alternating occupation of the workplace.

An occupational health appointment may help to determine the severity of allergies and potential eliminators.

Service Pets

Guide dogs have been around for many years and most of us will be aware that they have a right to accompany their owner in public places and also work spaces.

However, what if you have someone with an allergy or phobia in the office, as well as someone with a service dog?

Both disabilities are valid and must be considered and you will have to risk assess and agree a solutions between all parties.

You may also want to consider arrangements such as breaks (toilet breaks for the dog should be awarded in addition to lunch breaks but don’t have to be paid), areas for feeding and toileting, desk position (away from drafts and main walkways) and lease arrangements (ie additional carpet cleaning etc).

We are now also experiencing an increase of emotional support animals for people affected by mental health conditions such as anxiety or PTSD. These animals don’t have to be trained but must be registered to evidence that they have been ‘prescribed’ for the purpose of disability support.

ESAs don’t have the same legal rights as service animals. However, because they are essentially a disability support aid, employers must consider if it could be a reasonable adjustment to allow them in work.

Emotional Support Animals UK Registration

Impact on performance / attendance

Have a conversation with your team around the positives of having an animal in the office – pets can be a huge morale booster for most of us!

But also talk about putting the job first and remind people to get on with it, if you catch them getting distracted by cuddles.

Ultimately, it’s the owner’s responsibility to make sure their companion doesn’t become a distraction. So, upon introduction, it’s advisable to outline some simple ground rules and then review those regularly to ensure all are happy.

https://www.personneltoday.com/hr/cuddles-and-petting-in-the-office-but-not-with-humans/