Pros and cons of bringing your dog to work
If you work from home, having a dog as a companion can be a good thing. You have to get outside and get some exercise regularly, no matter the weather, and there’s often a wagging tail and a soft nose waiting if you need lite a little encouragement. But what’s it like to have a dog in the workplace? And what are the rules?
- Your colleagues and any customers always come first. It is up to your manager and safety officer to decide whether or not it is appropriate to have a dog at work.
- New employees' rights. The Work Environment Act states that it is the manager's responsibility to ensure that everyone is happy at work. If you are looking for new colleagues, inform them about the dog from the start.
- Inform customers. If you work in a shop, hairdressing salon or other place where people go in and out, it's a good idea to inform people outside that there is a dog, so that allergy sufferers are warned.
- Make sure your dog likes company. Of course, for a dog to be successful at work, it must like other people and be a positive experience for everyone in the workplace.
- Share the responsibility—and the love. Let your coworkers enjoy a walk during lunch, and lite kel during the coffee break. A dog at work is like a little coworker—while it’s there!
