Dogs at work?

fluffnutter

heretolearn wrote: »

How can she moan about them not taking her feelings into account, when she's not told them how she feels? I get the feeling she isn't going to do anything anyway, just wants a shoulder to moan on, otherwise she wouldn't be coming out with silly things like that. I understand someone not having the confidence to speak up, but not someone moaning because their employer isn't psychic! She's not seriously wanting to tackle the issue, she's just venting.

So just say 'there there' and leave it at that.

You know; you're exactly right. After phoning we exchanged a few mails where she elaborated further. It was all 'I need to maintain good relations', 'I'm lucky to have this job', 'It's my problem, I've got a phobia, I need to see my GP', 'If you want a sympathetic employer, don't work with the Army', 'I can't tell them because I only work part-time' etc. etc.

Basically it was just a load of over-analysed waffling nonsense. I'm afraid I became a little brusque and merely said 'If you don't like it, tell them. Else shut up about it'. She didn't mention it again.

Mistral001

I have a dog and work from home and one thing I learned very quickly was that not everybody likes dogs. It was only when one client was so frightened of my dog when he came into the room that she could not speak but only stuttered and pointed at him, that I realised that maybe I should ask whether people liked dogs before I allowed him into my office. Some clients loved them and have told me that they always look forward to seeing my dog everytime they came to see me. Some actually bring him presents of doggy biscuits.

Incidently my dog is a pretty good judge of character. Sometimes he takes a dislike to clients and will not go near them. Those clients nearly always turn out to be troublesome clients with regard to time-wasting or paying late.

Starrystarrynight

Taking dogs to work seems quite common in the Army. There was a Colonel who insisted on bringing his dogs into the office I worked in, and would let them bound around, terrifying me and annoying others, while he chattered away. In the end I used to go to another part of the building and ask a colleague to ring me when they were gone! The Colonel was made aware that people didn't want his pets in the office, but our feelings were nothing compared to good old tradition!
The OPs friend sounds very unconfident, putting it all on herself. She has to speak up and see it's not troublemaking.

Tiddlywinks

When I saw this thread title I instantly thought of all my times on an army base where dogs were welcomed in offices and, to be honest, the vast majority were very well behaved and the owners considerate of others' needs to carry on working uninterrupted and without the slobber of a pestering dog.

"Civvies" will be either civil servants or contractors - either way their organisation should have H&S policies for the work place that your friend will need to investigate.

Perhaps she could draft an email to her line manager explaining her phobia and asking that she be given a work space away from the dogs - she could also discuss her anxiety with Occ Health dept or the Unit Admin Officer to see if they will support her.

In reality, if the Officer Commanding says that dogs are welcome then you'll need to find an army regulation or a civil service policy that says otherwise.

MoneySavingUser

In my last workplace the building consisted of various offices rented to companies - turned out the building manager had 2 dogs and she brought them with her every day! but they were pretty well behaved just sat around by her desk all day.

Then it turned out the building owner also had a dog but he only came in now and then - the dog usually lay around in the sunlight as it was summer then.

I don't like dogs either but luckily these ones didn't bother me.

She needs to speak to them before they bring the dogs in.

pineapple

In my experience it's usually either a blanket 'no' or 'yes' subject to the feelings of others in the working environment and whether any disruption is caused. Without speaking to them she is panicking unnecessarily.

dickydonkin

I wonder what action the OP would take if she was allergic to dogs or dog hair etc.

She would really have to say something if that were the case.

I love dogs to bits - but I don't think bringing them into a working environment with colleagues is a good idea.

fluffnutter

dickydonkin wrote: »

I wonder what action the OP would take if she was allergic to dogs or dog hair etc.

She would really have to say something if that were the case.

I love dogs to bits - but I don't think bringing them into a working environment with colleagues is a good idea.

I asked her whether she was prepared to tell a little white lie and say she had an allergy. I think her worry is that she thinks she's not got a good enough reason (she thinks it's her problem that she's phobic) and hence won't be taken very seriously. She also feels very intimidated by (as Starrystarrynight put it) by 'Army tradition'. As far as I can tell (from previous experience and from some posts on here) it's not uncommon in the military to have dogs at work. TBH, they do sort of make up their own rules sometimes (and why not?). The problem only occurs when they've got someone who doesn't want to play ball. And in this case, that's my mate.

MrsTinks

One of my customers has an office dog... ok it's the MDs but he "owns" the place as far as all employees are concerns. Lovely little JRT Spoilt rotten by everyone - just trots around the company and from time to time you'll hear a shout for him just to check where he is and someone will call reception to tell them where he's gone to sleep I love having meetings going over reports whilst having a dog curled up under my chair

Another friend of mine also works for the RAF and is allowed to take her dog in if she wants - he doesn't always go in with her as he tends to go to work with her hubby (or used to) - but when he was in he'd be round to say hi, then snuggle under her desk till lunch when they'd go for a 4 mile run and then he'd be out cold for the afternoon...

I do entirely understand the phobia some people have and it should be respected - but likewise unless she tells the employer she frankly hasn't got a leg to stand on and won't get much sympathy...

Hopefully this will actually help her address her phobia if she DOES have it

bobajob_1966

fluffnutter wrote: »

I asked her whether she was prepared to tell a little white lie and say she had an allergy.

That would be really stupid - what happens when they ask for evidence?