Hoping workplaces go to the dogs

Dallas Morning News ^ | May 31, 2006 | Staff

[sinkspur]

"Dog owners would be willing to work longer hours, commute a greater distance and even switch jobs or consider a salary reduction if their four-legged friends could accompany them to work," Kathy Gurchiek writes in HR MAGAZINE.

She adds that 70 percent of those surveyed by the dog-obsessed Web site Dogster.com and the job search engine Simply Hired said a dog-friendly workplace was an important benefit.

There is no mention of how the dogs would feel about going to work every day.

[sinkspur]

This was in the hard copy version of the DMN as a sidebar item. Dogster.com is a great website if you're a dog lover.

[sinkspur]

Put this in personal/bloggers. I meant to do that.

[coconutt2000]

There are some people for whom this won't affect their productivity or for whom it will increase their productivity. But I doubt this will be the majority case, and that bringing a pet to work will be like bringing your kids. A distraction.

[Roux]

I hope our HR people don't see this.

[Wolfie]

I imagine it would cause way more problems than its worth, like the first workman's comp suit based on dog-o-phobia.

[knittnmom]

I like dogs. And cats. And most soft, fuzzy, cuddly animals. But I really don't want them in the office.

[CertainInalienableRights]

like the first workman's comp suit based on dog-o-phobia.

Or very real allergies to animal dander.

[Southside_Chicago_Republican]

There is no mention of how the dogs would feel about going to work every day.

I imagine that, at first, it would be a novelty, but it would only be a matter of time before they would be thinking, "I can't wait for the weekend," and "It's hump day!" and "TGIF!" and be grumbling about having to get up on Monday morning just to go back to the old grind.

[Mr. Jeeves]

If you aren't allowed to smoke in the office due to health risks, who thinks companies are going to ever allow the potential problems with allergies, bites, and unintended eliminations in the hallways? Bringing a dog to work is a selfish act.

Some Dot Com companies encouraged dogs in the office during the boom. Most are no longer with us. ;)

[theDentist]

Great, I'd be sitting at the desk and having dog after dog come up and sniff around, maybe mark his territory on the PC, and of course, beg for food at lunchtime. And some may not bother begging (pit bulls come to mind).

[Maceman]

Just as I always thought. Dog owners are nuts.

(signed)
Maceman's Cat

[CORedneck]

Even though my ideology in the workplace is towards having fun there as long as the work gets done but I do have to add that brining pets to work goes a little bit too far.

My ideology on the workplace is such as having no dress code except one simple rule, dress where body parts that should only be seen in the bedroom are not exposed - in other words, modest. I also believe in flex time since since different people are effective at different times. Some people like to go in early, leave early, others like normal 8 to 5 and others are "night owls" - go in at Noon and leave at 9.

[TexasRepublic]

"It's hump day!"

To dogs, every day is hump day.

[Southside_Chicago_Republican]

LOL! You know, sometimes I miss the most obvious things!

And who needs that around the office?

[Rockiette]

I love dogs so I allow and encourage my employees to bring their pets, alligators aside, to the office. The dogs are very well-behaved and are walked at lunch time. It is a professional office and clients have no problem, they are asked and if they object, we remove the dog. It works out very well.

[KarlInOhio]

Can the company be sued for sexual harassment if one employee's mutt knocks up another employee's pedigreed dog?

[brytlea]

Actually, yes, probably so. I used to occasionally do a lesson plan that included one of my dogs, and I always had a couple of students who were terrified even of puppies. I couldnl't tell how much of it was honest to goodness terror and how much was, "Everyone look at me, I'm standing on the desk screaming!" but still, it would be a distraction in a workplace to have someone standing on the desk screaming either way.
susie

[oyez]

[brytlea]

I think it's just gotta depend on the company. I frequently took my dogs with me when I worked at a vets office, and occasionally when I taught school. However, I do think it would be inappropriate for most serious office environments.
susie

[sinkspur]

I love dogs so I allow and encourage my employees to bring their pets, alligators aside, to the office. The dogs are very well-behaved and are walked at lunch time. It is a professional office and clients have no problem, they are asked and if they object, we remove the dog. It works out very well.

Wow! Aren't you a great boss!!