ultiple studies have found that pets help lower stress, so what better place to have them than in the office? According to CO, the US Chamber of Commerce newsletter, pet-friendly workplaces are becoming increasingly popular among employers and employees alike.
CO cites a recent LiveCareer study reporting that 94 percent of respondents were supportive of having Fido or Fluffy in the office, with 52 percent reporting that “pet-friendly benefits and policies are important when considering an employer.” But while it may seem like a great idea to invite a furry companion to come to work, it’s important to note that not all workplace animals are the same.
By law, a disabled person’s service or alert animal is allowed to be at that person’s workplace, though there are some exceptions to the rule. Emotional support animals are not the same, and do not have the same protections. And cuddly-wuddly fur babies? Not covered by the law at all.
So which four-legged friends are appropriate in the office? And who is responsible if something goes wrong?
“Generally, employers must allow service and alert animals in the workplace as a reasonable accommodation for the employee’s disability,” he explains. “There are some exceptions to that, however, including if the animal poses a direct threat to whatever is going on in that setting.”
The setting is key, Corbisier explains. “For example, if a patient is going in for surgery, the service animal can be excluded because it poses a threat to the patient who needs the sterile operating environment. Other circumstances may include food handling situations, such as in restaurant kitchens, or if the employer is providing a service where the service animal would inherently interfere with the business operation like a dog mushing tour,” he says. “Service and alert animals may also be excluded if the animal is unruly—barking uncontrollably or not housebroken.”
Service and alert animals are also allowed in places of public accommodation. Under Alaska statutes, because the service animal is related to a person’s disability, it must be allowed in public places; barring the animal can be considered a potentially discriminatory act against the owner/handler. Corbisier notes that, under state and federal law, service animals can only be dogs or miniature horses (such as those that pull wheelchairs).
“It has to be one of those two things,” he says with a laugh. “There are no service cats or parakeets.”
Emotional support animals do not receive the same level of legal protection as service and alert animals, and they are only protected in housing situations. Under the federal Fair Housing Act, a person with a qualifying disability, such as post-traumatic stress disorder, who has been prescribed a support animal by a medical provider can have that animal in their home, even if the landlord does not allow pets and even if that animal has no special training.
“An emotional support animal is not considered a pet for the purposes of housing, and the person is able to have that animal in a housing unit regardless of landlord restrictions,” says Corbisier, adding that his office has seen cases involving homeowners associations trying to enforce no-pet policies.
Therapy animals, such as those that visit children in hospitals, do not have any legal protections, as their role is not related to any kind of disability. This also applies to house pets, which means that the only way they are getting into the workplace is with the permission of the employer.
Animals in the office may also provide better work-life balance and make it easier for employees who feel guilt or experience logistical challenges leaving their pets at home for extended periods. Pets also increase employee morale, and they can encourage employee bonding and break the ice among coworkers, improving relationships and facilitating collaboration.
From an employer’s point of view, allowing animals in the office can help attract new employees. According to Hushoffice, 66 percent of human resource personnel say interviewees ask about pets, and half of employees say pet-friendly perks could convince them to take an offer. Moreover, 46 percent say they would be more likely to recommend their employer if pets were allowed in the office.
However, there are some negatives to pet-friendly office policies. What if a dog bites someone or has an accident in the office? What if other employees are allergic or just don’t like animals? Other concerns include employees’ pets fighting with each other or whether a company’s lease even allows animals in a building that it does not own.
In the case of a service animal, employers need to find ways to work around prospective issues to legally accommodate all employees.
“A classic example is a blind employee who needs their trained seeing-eye dog, but another employee has an allergy,” says Corbisier. “As an employer, you have to figure out how to reasonably accommodate both of those people. That may include having the dog there when the allergic employee isn’t present or having the allergic employee wear a mask when the service animal is there.”
For those employers considering a pet-friendly office, it’s best to survey employees first regarding pet allergies and possibly set aside a single room or specific space for pets to limit allergen spread. A pet policy should also be put into place regarding food and bathroom breaks for pets, limiting the number of animals in the office daily, responsibilities concerning pet-related injuries, and ways to reduce potential disruptions. Employers might also want to consider retaining insurance or having employees sign a waiver to protect the company against legal liability.
Michele Forto of Alaska Dog Works and Dog Works Radio has decades of experience training therapy dogs to work in healthcare offices, schools, churches, and more. She advises her clients who take dogs to work to make sure that their animals meet the minimum American Kennel Club standard of “Canine Good Citizen” before allowing them into the workplace.
“This program, which has been around since the 1980s, encourages people to make sure that their dogs are polite; have proper greeting behavior; do not become upset, agitated, or overly excited at the sight of another dog; and that the owner knows how to police these and other behaviors,” she explains of the ten-step training. “It doesn’t matter whether it’s a pet, emotional support, or therapy dog; they should all meet these standards.”
She adds the program disqualifies dogs that exhibit barking, baring of teeth, and biting, as are dogs that defecate in public spaces while being tested. “If a dog can’t handle these minimum things, they cannot handle being in an office,” she says. “If a dog is under six months old, which is the base age to do this testing, they should also not be in the workplace, as they do not have all of their shots and are probably not completely potty trained.”
She notes that employees are not only responsible for the care and control of their dogs in the office but for the safety of anyone who encounters their dog surrounding the job site, even in the parking lot. She adds that not every working environment is conducive to having dogs onsite, as there may be health ramifications for both the animal and other employees.
“People usually think of the food service environment, but I also have clients who work in labs, where there can be cross-contamination by animal dander, and in the gas and oil industry, where static electricity from a dog’s coat can be problematic. It’s also not good for animals to be around hazardous materials,” she explains.
While dogs have been shown to reduce employee stress in the workplace, some dogs become more stressed in certain environments, and it’s important to monitor their health to ensure that they are comfortable in an office or work setting.
“If the dog is panting, pacing, shaking, whining, or obsessively chewing on objects at work or seems tired and fatigued after you get home, the workplace may not be conducive to your dog’s health,” says Forto.
She also believes that, before bringing a dog into the office, the idea should be discussed in a team meeting, allowing everyone to weigh in on the pros and cons of having animals at work.
“Should the pet owners all do training together so that their dogs are familiar with each other? If someone in the office is allergic to dogs, how do you make them feel not left out?” she asks. “You need to recognize that you cannot encroach on the rights of others just because you like to have your best buddy sitting under your desk keeping your toes warm.”
As enticing as pet-friendly perks might be, some animals are better off at home. “Pets are wonderful additions to our lives, but they also help us decompress when we leave the work environment, and sometimes that’s the best thing to come home to after a hard day,” Forto says. “Sometimes bringing your dog to work is not always the best therapy for you.”