Pets at Work

With many people working at home these days, inevitably their pets are now a part of their work space. If that day comes when you have to go back to a traditional office space, can you bring your pet with you?

Before you consider bringing your pet to work, check with your landlord about the rules of the building. Many larger office buildings only permit Service Dogs, period. This is a licensed animal who has been through vigorous training to provide a service for some type of related disability. They see for the blind, hear for the deaf, advise of low diabetic numbers or oncoming seizures for those afflicted. They are not there to be pets, they are there to work. If only Service Animals are permitted in your work space, you cannot bring your pet from home, regardless of how much you believe they add to your well-being.

With the office setting changing, this may be an opportune time to consider a new office that permits pets. Or, try to use this as a negotiating tool for your current space when the lease is up. We looked at some space initially that allowed pets but we chose to go with more building amenities. For insurance purposes, many larger capacity buildings do not allow pets. They must, by law, allow Service Dogs, but nothing else. After all, this should be your office space where you go to work, not run a doggy daycare.

Our lines of demarcation are definitely becoming blurred in a Zoom, Work at Home environment. We may truly never return to our old way of doing business. But know the laws, ask landlords about their policies, and evaluate if continuing to work with your pets around is a must have. If the answer is yes, do the research and focus on space that will allow you to bring your furry friends with you.

Our Canadian Barbet friends featured in today’s Blog are Service Dogs. They are licensed and show up to work. Make sure you know your options if/when you return to your office building. Until then, enjoy having your pets pose for the next Zoom meeting!

Be well.