Questions 1. What is your position on this issue? Provide two or three reasons to support your argument. 2. If you were an HR manager of a company, what pet policy would you set and how would you implement it? 3. How would you decide the case of Elizabeth Booth, and which laws would you base your decision on? Explain. Sources: James J. McDonald, Jr., "Take Your Dog to Work Every Day," Employee Relations Law Journal 32, no. 3 (Winter 2006): 86; "Has Your Organization Gone to the Dogs?" http://www.hrwebcafe .com/2007/06/has_your_organization_gone_to.html; Ethan A. Winning, Pets at the Corporate Zoo" http://www.ewin.com/arch/pets .htm; "About Take Your Dog to Work Day" http://www.takeyourdog .com/About/; "Take Your Dog to Work Every Day" http://www .dogfriendly.com/server/general/workplace/. Case Study 1. Going to the Dogs Let's admit it: With very few exceptions, we all love Before we go too far with this idea, however, per- dogs. We love to be with our dogs, and our dogs love haps we should take note of some arguments against to be with us. So it is only natural, then, to want to bringing dogs to work. First, some HR experts like keep our dogs with us as much as possible, even when Ethan Winning have cautioned that dogs can be we go to work. Pet Sitters International thinks this is messy, placing an unfair burden on employers to such a good idea that they have instituted "Take Your clean up afterwards. Dogs can also be a distraction, Dog to Work Day," a once-a-year event designed to and other employees may be allergic or otherwise raise awareness of the benefits of dog ownership and disturbed by them. And what happens when two or to encourage pet adoption. more employees bring their dogs to work on the same But maybe you would like something a bit day, and Fido and Fifi don't want to play nice? more regular, like having the option to bring Fido to Of course, some people actually need to bring work every day? According to a 2006 survey by the their dogs to work, which is why the Americans American Pet Products Manufacturers Association, it with Disabilities Act permits the use of service ani- should not be too hard to find an opportunity since mals to assist those with disabilities. For example, nearly one in five companies already allows pets in seeing-eye dogs are allowed to accompany blind in- the workplace. You can even find a list of employers dividuals at work. The EEOC guideline is reasonable that allow canines at work on DogFriendly.com. Fans since guide dogs are necessary to blind individuals, of the dogs-at-the-office policy say it increases em and furthermore, guide dogs are trained not to be a nuisance. ployee morale and decreases stress. implement it? 1. What is your position on this issue? Provide two or three reasons to support your argument. 2. If you were an HR manager of a company, what pet policy would you set and how would you 3. How would you decide the case of Elizabeth Booth, and which laws would you base you Day Employee Relations Law Journal 32, no. 3 (Winter 2006). 86, "Has Your Organization Gone to the Dogs?" http://www.hrwebote Winning, "Pets at the Corporate Zoo," http://www.ewin.com/archives htm; 'About Take Your Dog to Work Day. http://www.takeyourdog It can be challenging, however, for employers Questions to know where to draw the line. Take the case of Elizabeth Booth, a quadriplegic hired by Case Services Corporation as an accountant in the billing department. Booth, who uses a wheelchair for mobil- ity, has trained her small, well-behaved dog to pick up small items that Booth has dropped. Along with a formal request to be allowed to bring her dog to work to assist her, Booth submitted to her employer a let- ter from her doctor stating that the dog would also decision on? Explain. help relieve Booth's stress. When Case Services's HR director denied the request, Booth immediately filed a discrimination charge with the EEOC, claiming the .com/2007/06/has_your_organization gone_to.html; Ethan A company did not provide a reasonable accommoda- tion to her disability or her health needs. When it comes to establishing a pet policy, as is .com/About/; "Take Your Dog to Work Every Day: http://www. dogfriendly.com/server/general/workplace/. so often the case, balancing the employer's needs and responsibilities with the employees' needs and wants presents something of a dilemma. 124