Hi All

anyone able to help with this dilemma - I have a few members of staff who want to bring their dogs to work and a few who already do and leave them in their cars. As we have do definitive stance on this as an organisation I have been asked to make one and incorporate it into the safety operating policies. We have offices, shops and hospices so I need to cover all sites.

Anyone able to provide some guidance?

Thanks

Why has it become a safety issue, why don't the management make the decision. This will be another case of H&S won't let you!

Ask management what they want, do they want it to stop or are they asking for it to be allowed. If the dogs can't behave and are frightening children or adults then it shouldn't be allowed.

If they want to leave them in thier own cars then is it up to the company to stop them?

There is a certain pet retail company who allow employees to take their pet to work at the head office.

Tt is nice to see the pets looked after by their owner while at work, they get regular walks, food etc.

I don't think pets should be left in vehicles in a car park.

I do think it depends on the venue. I mean if there are adequate facilities for dogs to be kept secure and out of the public way, then it's not really an issue. However, I'd say that leaving a dog in the car is an absolute no given the number of dogs who perish each year left in hot cars. It's a bit like saying 'can I bring my child into work and have them run around the office'. You have taken a choice to own a pet or have children, and therefore ultimately you are responsible for their care.

if your business provides an outdoor (dog safe) area or creche facilities, then great. You either provide them or you don't. if you don't already, then you have to look at if it's a need and are there resources to facilitate it, as well as funds. If not, then I'd take a policy of no pets allowed, either in the building or left in cars.

Reason being, who's liable if the dog for example bites someone? Who is liable if the dog damages some property or fowls and someone slips in it? If you iron all this out and provide a proper area, then you've done your due diligence. And of course risk assess it, some people are allergic to pets (or the mites on the pets), and you won't always know till they have a reaction or have told you.

And I would want to ensure hygiene is considered very seriously, particularly in hospices. I know they do have pet days where they use animals as therapy but these are carefully managed.

Personally I would take a no stance, as it is easier to do that then try and provision for it. At the end of the day if you own a dog you should make provision to ensure it's happy, fed, watered and exercised, and if your job is such you need to leave an animal for 8 hours a day and it's the type that doesn't like being left, then you need to consider why you got one in the first place, or hire yourself some doggy day care. I have a collegue who does just that and the dog gets looked after for the day.

The workplace (unless a zoo or a vets) is no place for animals. Plenty of dogs bite, many have fleas, many will foul wherever they can. Some dogs are excitable and run around like mad, especially around new people.

I cant fathom why anyone in their right mind would take an animal to work or even be allowed too. Some people are also more susceptible to infection from dog or animal bites or scratches (people with diabetes or liver probs for example).

As demonstrated by the owners leaving the animals in vehicles the workplace has no provision for their care - Company policy, if one were needed, should not condone poor treatment of animals at the employers premises.

Asthmatics would also not thank any employer who deliberately introduces a trigger in to the work situation.

Years ago, as a consultant, I worked for two organisations almost at the same time; one in a corporate setting, and the other dealing with equine-related paperwork.
I was commissioned to look at the workstation set-ups in both companies.
The people in the (rather sterile) corporate offices were helpless, unhappy, and rather difficult. They had access to more or less any item to help with their workstation set-up (footrests, good chairs etc).
The people at the other office were buoyant, happy and undemanding. They were making do with whatever left-over old chairs, desks etc. they could find.
Not a footrest in sight; nearly all had their dog in a basket under the desk! This was the norm in that climate.
Just saying . . .

Why make this a Health and Safety Issue?

I like animals but I'm sorry I don't want my colleagues pet dog sat under their desk all day. If you allow dogs in where do you stop? We had a fish tank at work and when the fish died I suggested replacing it with a tarantella (I was only joking) the response I got was very funny -but once you have a policy on dogs for equality you have to look at all animals.

I would only make exceptions for mobility dogs ( guide dogs hearing dogs etc) and therapy dogs in a care setting - unless of course your a vets practice.

Until someone gets bit and sues your company.

Good for you.

As a matter of interest does the taxpayer pay your wages?
I just noticed your interest group is Public services

If its a private concern and the boss does not mind the loss of productivity then great.
If its the tax payer ...........I'd prefer the money to go to helping the nnedy

But it is health & safety. How can it not be? Yes, you may have happy workforce those who can bring their dogs to work, but what about those who don't? Is it just tough they have to live with it? What if someone gets bitten, or there is fouling. What if your dog gets hurt at work because it ran in front of someone and got kicked or had something drop on it. Are you going to sue your employers for injury even though you brought your dog in? Or will you claim damages against the vet fees because rather than set up a sensible plan of either being able to go home to your dog and walk it or have someone else do it, you brought it into work.

Where does the buck stop? So sorry, it is health & safety, for you, for everyone else, and for your dog.

Surely it all depends (like so much else) on the environment in question?
In a workplace where pets (any pets) don't add to the hazards and provided they are insured by the owners & controlled, what's the problem?

In fact there could be several pluses - a happier workforce, reduced stress etc .. OK not everyone likes pets - well not everyone likes talking football or politics, tuna sandwiches or other people's deodorant either (Not to mention e-cigs and fags!)

As regards the needy benefiting from taxes - define needy: are these the same needy who indulge in fags and e-cigs. tattoos and tattoo removal and various forms of substance abuse treated at taxpayer's expense?

Lets all take a nice deep (unpolluted) breath and ask our selves "does it really matter if someone takes a dog to work?" - we don't know the circumstances in the workplace in question so we can't judge, can we?

I love my children. They are well behaved, hardly ever whine and I am so much happier being around them and having them with me.

So presumably, those who have no problem with dogs in the workplace - with the emphasis on work - would welcome my children at work.

Or I could bring my cat.

Or leave them in the car and pop out every hour or so, and don't forget to give them a run around the car park during lunch, cleaning any mess they make.

Surely this is all a matter of, dare I say it, common sense?

why not have a dog creche, solve all problems!

A tiger - a very hungry tiger.

Couple of snakes were I work. Also a manger who won't say boo, to a goose.

I take my dog into work, and encourage others who have suitable dogs to do the same.

Just like other issues, then you need to have a process in place and ensure it is followed.

Will the dog poo and wee - mine does not, but others do. What do you do at home when this happens? Clean it up and use a sanitizer designed for the purpose - available form any pet shop or on-line.

Will the dog bite? Very unlikely.

Are people allergic to dogs? Not as many as those who are allergic to dust mites, cleaning prod cuts, birds, small mammals and miserable Safety Managers! How would you deal with this? The same way you would deal with any other allergy.

How would you deal with dog behavior? The owner is responsible and if they can't control the dog, then they need to train it or not bring it in!

Are there benefits to dogs and other appropriate pets at work? Absolutely - fun, stress reduction, feeling of well being and oneness with the universe.

The welfare of the dog does need to be taken into consideration - and keeping them in a car can kill the dog and would be a breach of legislation.

A code of practice would need to be devised. I would be happy to help anyone with that. Message me.

However - I do need to make it clear, I work for a large pet retail and services company. You probably know the one!

Now, I have got stressed by some of the jobs worth responses so I will pop into the office next door and stroke Ollie for a bit (err.. he is a golden lab)

Ian