Why dog-friendly policies are more relevant than ever
Today, dog-friendly policies are more common than ever before. However, bringing your dog to work is not a new concept. Google has been dog friendly since the ‘90s, and even has a dog play park on campus.
There are many potential positives for welcoming an office dog into the workplace. Research suggests that dogs at work may reduce stress levels, boost performance and employee engagement. However, animal allergies are common, and some employees may be uncomfortable sharing their work space with a dog.
So, where do you stand on having dogs in the office? It is a question that companies should be thinking about, especially now. As we return to the workplace, you may notice more employees asking to bring their dog to work with them.
Over the pandemic, lots of households have welcomed a four-legged friend into their homes. Whether employees were working from home, on furlough, or homeschooling, pups became a popular companion on government-permitted daily walks, and a comfort during the isolation of stay-at-home orders. As a result, some lockdown puppies will have grown used to their humans being home.
Although many employers are adopting more flexible working practices, for example in the form of hybrid working, it may be a difficult adjustment period for many as we continue to return to the office.
Five things you should consider before introducing a dog-friendly work policy
So, here are 5 things to consider before you allow employees to bring their dogs to work:
1. The impact on other employees
Ensure you consider the health and safety of all employees, especially if any employees have allergies. To help with this, some companies have ‘dog free zones’ where they have the space to do so. Of course, how effective this would be may depend on how severe the allergy is, so it would be advisable to discuss any suitable accommodations with any affected employees.
Moreover, think about the potential emotional impact on any employees who may have a phobia of dogs, or who would feel uncomfortable with a dog in the office.
Employers should be especially careful to consider how an office dog may impact employees with protected characteristics under the Equality Act 2010, as they may be able to raise a discrimination claim if they are not treated fairly.
On this note, there is an important distinction between supporting an employee with a disability by accommodating an assistance dog, and introducing a general policy on dogs in the workplace for all employees.
Speak to employees to find out how they would feel about having dogs in the office. This would help you to hear any concerns and understand how a dog-friendly policy would impact your team.
2. Dog behaviour
How could you ensure that wagging tails would be a suitable match for the workplace? If you do decide to permit dogs at work, it may be helpful to specify some requirements. For example, whether dogs should be fully trained, insured, and vaccinated. You may need to think about how you will check these requirements have been met. For example, could you gain the advice of a dog behaviourist, and ask for evidence of vaccinations and insurance?
3. Facilities, Health and Safety and Environment
Carrying out a risk assessment would help you to identify any potential health and safety issues, and how you may be able to mitigate them.
There may be several points to think about, for example:
- Is it practical or safe to have a dog in your workspace?
- Are there any legal restrictions for your business that would prevent you from allowing dogs on the premises?
- What areas would the dog be able to access?
- Do dogs need to be on a lead in the office, stay in a certain area or would they have free reign?
- What are the potential safety risks of having multiple dogs in the workplace?
- Could there be trip hazards in the form of leads, or spillages from water bowls?
- How would your emergency procedures apply to dogs?
- How would you manage toileting? Is there a designated area on site that could be accessed by dogs and their owners or would they need to leave the site?
Don’t forget, you should also consider the wellbeing of the dog, and how happy or comfortable they would be in the office. How could you ensure they have access to a relaxed, stress-free space and fresh water?
4. Are office dogs the right fit for your company?
There is growing research into how dogs in the workplace can positively influence employee stress levels, job satisfaction and morale. Having dogs in the office may also increase social interactions between staff, and support the happiness of pet owners and the dogs themselves.
However, you will need to weigh up the pro’s and con’s of having dogs in the office and decide if its the right move for your team. Think carefully about how having dogs at work may impact your culture.
5. HR Policies – Implementing a Dog-Friendly Policy
Once you have made your decision, we recommend creating a policy to clearly communicate your expectations with staff. This can include practical expectations around the above points. In addition, outline the process for requesting to bring your dog to work, and also how employees can raise any concerns.
You should also make it clear that the dog’s wellbeing and behaviour is the responsibility of the owner. They should ensure the dog does not endanger themselves or others, or damage property.
And, explain how breaching any aspects of the dog-friendly policy would be handled in line with other company policies, such as your disciplinary policy.
What can we do to help?
To sum up, as employers, we need to decide our company’s view on introducing office dogs to the workspace, and how we would respond if an employee requested to bring their dog to work with them.
If you would like support with drafting a dog-friendly policy, or managing an issue around bringing a dog to work, please contact the team on 0330 223 5253 or office@fitzgeraldhr.co.uk. We would love to hear from you.
