Dear HR Manager from In the Doghouse

Dear HR Manager from In the Doghouse

Dear HR Manager,

The cat’s out of the bag…I don’t like my colleague’s dog. A dog-friendly office sounded like a great perk when I joined the company until my co-worker’s puppy made a habit of gnawing on my leg during Zoom calls. I am also taking inconvenient breaks to walk Fido as my colleague is nowhere to be found when he needs to go outside. There have been a few accidents. How can I tell my colleague his dog needs to stay home?

– In the Doghouse

Dear In the Doghouse,

It sounds like you got the short end of the stick. A good first step is to review the workplace pet policy to understand the expected behavior of your four-legged neighbor. This document should outline the repercussions if pets cannot meet the appropriate conduct standard. If no policy exists, don’t fret. You still have options.

Start by scheduling a conversation with your colleague. Share your observations and frustrations in a kind manner focusing on how the dog’s behavior affects your work. Be clear in establishing your boundaries (i.e., I am not comfortable with your dog touching me). If your attempt to solve one-on-one does not result in prompt correction, contact your manager or HR manager to intervene.

– HR Manager

Originally featured in UBA’s May 2022 HR Elements Newsletter.
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