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Take your pet to work

post #1 of 45
1/22/08 at 4:30pm
Thread Starter 
http://content.comcast.monster.com/b...c_n=comcast007

This article talks mostly about bringing your dog to work with you...but what if the company you worked for allowed both cats and dogs?

Would you bring in your pet(s) if allowed and do you think that this is something that should be opened up in company policies?
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post #2 of 45
1/22/08 at 4:34pm
Honestly, I don't think that any of the tribe have the temperament to spend a day at work.
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post #3 of 45
1/22/08 at 4:36pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Skippymjp View Post
Honestly, I don't think that any of the tribe have the temperament to spend a day at work.
Same here!
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post #4 of 45
1/22/08 at 4:38pm
The budgies would want to come out of their cages, and the cat would last maybe an hour, my nerves would be frazzled, so, no.
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post #5 of 45
1/22/08 at 4:40pm
I think that the workplace should be generally pet-free. Dogs would be a distraction for employees causing loss of productivity. Not everybody loves your dog like you do. Even the most well behaved dog can get protective or misunderstood. It is a liability.

Cats are not (generally) as social as dogs. I don't see it being a good situation for cats to be in the workplace (unless it is the single cat in the musty antique shop situation)

As for bringing my own cats to work, I don't really see that one happening...ever. I weld, so unless I wanted burned, bald, scared kitties, it ain't gonna happen.
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post #6 of 45
1/22/08 at 5:23pm
how about leave the owner at home day instead
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post #7 of 45
1/22/08 at 5:56pm
I work at an animal shelter, bringing your pet to work is a job requirement. lol..

Actually I have only taken my dog a few time to work when I didn't have a baby sitter for him and I didn't want to leave him outdoor all day.

My co-workers bring their dogs everyday. I like having them around. They were shelter rescues that were once considered "unadoptable". Also sometimes we will have cats in the office too. They are just as welcomed.

However in a normal workplace it shouldn't be allowed. People are allergice to pets, and their feelings/medical issues should be considered.
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post #8 of 45
1/22/08 at 8:46pm
I couldn't, because I work in a hospital, but I would love to bring the doggies in! They'd just mostly sleep but at least they'd be with me. I think it's a great idea!
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post #9 of 45
1/22/08 at 9:31pm
hummm ... no .... I work at home alot so they are at work and MAJOR distractions at times... but then again so is my MOM
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post #10 of 45
1/22/08 at 9:34pm
heeh i would love to stay home, but then again, both cats where climibing all over me this moring that i could not even get to my email.
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post #11 of 45
1/23/08 at 1:00am
I agree completely with the comments about allergies, distraction, potential behavioural minefields etc. As much as I find it weird that some people don't like or are afraid of animals, they shouldn't be forced into having contact with other people's pets at work, it wouldn't be fair.

Funnily enough someone asked me yesterday if I ever wanted to bring my cats to work with me - I just had this mental image of the trail of destruction they would leave in their wake. I have no doubt that they'd love it they are that confident and bold and would find it very exciting I am sure... but try taking a phone message when the little horrors have tested gravity with all the pens
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post #12 of 45
1/23/08 at 2:06am
I wouldn't get any work done if i brought my cats to work.
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post #13 of 45
1/23/08 at 2:34am
My kids would be terrified being in a strange place
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post #14 of 45
1/23/08 at 11:38am
Quote:
Originally Posted by WELDRWOMN View Post
I think that the workplace should be generally pet-free. Dogs would be a distraction for employees causing loss of productivity. Not everybody loves your dog like you do. Even the most well behaved dog can get protective or misunderstood. It is a liability.

Cats are not (generally) as social as dogs. I don't see it being a good situation for cats to be in the workplace (unless it is the single cat in the musty antique shop situation)

As for bringing my own cats to work, I don't really see that one happening...ever. I weld, so unless I wanted burned, bald, scared kitties, it ain't gonna happen.
I have read somewhere that dogs at work improve productivity.
I bring two of my dogs to work, at least, once a week. Everyone loves it when I bring them, customers and our neighbors in the complex and our employees.
So, no, I think the workplace should NOT be pet-free.
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post #15 of 45
1/23/08 at 11:54am
Tripod was found at my work and spent his first week with me on my desk each day. One day Oliver told him that he never worked a day of his life. Tripod decided that as a cat, he shouldn't either. He hasn't worked a day since.
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post #16 of 45
1/23/08 at 11:58am
In the past, I brought our dogs (never more than one at at time) to work (schools) with me, at one school on a daily basis, and my last boss brought her dog to school every day, as did a long-time colleague.

We had "school cats" for quite a while, until their rescuer (the custodian) found an apartment where he could keep the cats.

There were never any complaints, and I believe the pets really enhanced the working environment.

That said, I wouldn't dream of taking Jamie to work with me, because he's not friendly or cuddly with strangers.
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post #17 of 45
1/23/08 at 12:00pm
One of the doctors at the medical centre where I go to see my doctor brings his dog to work. He has a pillow and blankets under his desk for the dog. I think it's marvellous.

One of the gentlemen I work with is very involved in ferret rescue and if he has a sick ferret that needs medication every couple hours he will bring it into the office with him.

I have had both Mika and Bijou here at my office - not for the whole day but our daughter has had Mika at her former job for the whole day. Her former job liked for folks to bring their pets to work. Mika slept in a file cabinet by her desk.

I think it would be difficult with most cats since they don't like change but Mika and Bijou are used to being out and about so it wasn't stressful for them.
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post #18 of 45
1/23/08 at 12:07pm
At the shelter the adoption counsellors usually have their dogs with them, but since it is an animal environment, you don't really notice one or two more animals. Recently one of them stopped taking her dog to work with her and gets begged to bring him in every day now

A guy at work takes his cat with him, it needs regular shots and is used to being outdoors, I have had the cat in my office a few times if the person has a meeting with someone and needs someone to watch the kitty. He just goes to sleep under my desk, it is just like having Scully with me.

I don't think I would ever take mine with me though, they aren't used to being outside the apartment and Magnum who is fine on a leash can be mean when he feels like it so I would worry about him getting grumpy.
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post #19 of 45
1/23/08 at 12:20pm
I have no difficulty on principle with having pets in the office. I do think it depends on the particular work environment and the particular animal, and wouldn't think of bringing any of mine to work, even though I doubt there would be any objection. They aren't very happy with strangers, and even make strange with people who come to our house often, so I don't expect they'd be very happy about the idea. Others bring dogs in from time to time and it's fine. In fact, one woman has a 5-month (or so) Lab puppy, who is a Guide Dog in training, so she's here whenever her human is, and it's great. We're part of her socialization and her learning that there are times to socialize, but you must not when you are on duty.
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post #20 of 45
1/23/08 at 12:27pm
Cats generally wouldn't enjoy being in a workplace like a dog would.

I was working at Google for a while, which allows you to bring yor dog to work and it was awesome. They have very strict policies about it. There is a one strike and you're out rule when it comes to aggression and inappropriate behaviour. Also, if any employee has allergy issues, the dog has to go - no employee has to suffer from having dogs there. And it's the sort of workplace that wouldn't tolerate "bullying" someone if they had allergies and caused a dog to leave.

One whole wing there was a dog free zone because someone had major allergies. You couldn't even walk your dog near that area.

There was a gorgeous pit bull/lab cross in my section and he was gorgeous. He LOVED being at work! On a Monday morning when everyone was groaning, Bailey would come tearing in so happy to see everyone, and would greet everyone who was there, then as everyone arrived they would get greeted as well. Whenever things got stressful, we'd get his chew toy and wrestle with him, or take him for a walk, and it was so therapeutic.

I would always have treats for him, so he would regularly come up to me and sit next to me with his head in my lap staring at me hoping for his treats. It always made me smile
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post #21 of 45
1/23/08 at 6:57pm
Oh and when I worked for Matt's parents we used to socialise ferals in the unused office upstairs, and have a dog in the office with us (everyone was a pet owner)
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post #22 of 45
1/23/08 at 7:01pm
Everytime my company has a "bring your child to work" day, I ask if I can bring my dogs. They would love it but probably distract everyone in the office. No way would I consider bringing a cat into the office. My cats would hate it - why torture them?
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post #23 of 45
1/24/08 at 5:13am
Quote:
Originally Posted by WELDRWOMN View Post
I think that the workplace should be generally pet-free. Dogs would be a distraction for employees causing loss of productivity. Not everybody loves your dog like you do. Even the most well behaved dog can get protective or misunderstood. It is a liability.

Cats are not (generally) as social as dogs. I don't see it being a good situation for cats to be in the workplace (unless it is the single cat in the musty antique shop situation)

As for bringing my own cats to work, I don't really see that one happening...ever. I weld, so unless I wanted burned, bald, scared kitties, it ain't gonna happen.
At my last job, the owner of the company brought him his 2 dogs everyday. As sweet as they were, they were a huge distraction. They would sit and stare at you begging for food ALL DAY LONG I get enough of that at home from Jake

As far as the kitties go, I wouldn't take them into work. They are easily scared and don't do well when there's alot of people around.

Jake wouldn't do well either. He is a rescue that was abused and gets very nervous around big groups of people.
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post #24 of 45
1/24/08 at 9:36am
You should be working, not eating. Eating is a huge distraction on work time.
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post #25 of 45
1/24/08 at 9:47am
I could see an obvious liability problem. No matter how friendly your pet is, accidents happen and when they do the place better have insurance to cover it.

The other problem would be exposure to viruses. You may have your dog or cat fully vaccinated to the standards that a kennel may require but maybe someone else doesn't.
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post #26 of 45
1/24/08 at 10:23am
If my dogs are friendly, which they are, what, possible, liability could there be?

I REFUSE to live my life worried about getting sued.

The only other dogs that come to work are my brother's. I'm not worried about that. I don't even believe in giving my dogs every vaccination. Dogs are over-vaccinated IMO anyway.
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post #27 of 45
1/24/08 at 10:29am
I have had a lot of run ins where dogs and cats are allowed. Mainly petstores and people bring in dogs that will EAT cats!!!! IMO I don't think they should be bringing their dogs ANYWHERE!!! Especially where cats can and are involved. Leya (the blind one) will sit in the shopping cart happy as a bird! She loves all the sounds and smells and because she's blind she just sits in the cart and enjoys the ride. It really erks me when someone's dog comes dashing over barking and being a freak trying to eat my cat!!!!
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post #28 of 45
1/24/08 at 1:14pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by strange_wings View Post
I could see an obvious liability problem. No matter how friendly your pet is, accidents happen and when they do the place better have insurance to cover it.

The other problem would be exposure to viruses. You may have your dog or cat fully vaccinated to the standards that a kennel may require but maybe someone else doesn't.
With the exception of Jamie, who has been black-listed because of a very expensive incident resulting in our street having to be dug up, all of the pets we've had have been insured against personal liability claims, and I know my colleagues' pets were, as well.

Vaccinations, or rather lack thereof, could be a potential problem.
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post #29 of 45
1/24/08 at 1:22pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by jcat View Post
With the exception of Jamie, who has been black-listed because of a very expensive incident resulting in our street having to be dug up, all of the pets we've had have been insured against personal liability claims, and I know my colleagues' pets were, as well.

Vaccinations, or rather lack thereof, could be a potential problem.
Jamie made people come out with a backhoe? Oh goodness. And he's blacklisted because of that? For some reason I have this wonderful mental image of your insurance company passing around a photo of him as men mutter and make comments on the destructive nature of cats.


I would never bring any of the boys to work with me. They'd just meow and get into things.
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post #30 of 45
1/24/08 at 1:40pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by lookingglass View Post
Jamie made people come out with a backhoe? Oh goodness. And he's blacklisted because of that? For some reason I have this wonderful mental image of your insurance company passing around a photo of him as men mutter and make comments on the destructive nature of cats.


I would never bring any of the boys to work with me. They'd just meow and get into things.
Some repair work was being done on our street, Jamie accidentally got out and stuck in a water pipe, and first the fire company had to come, and then the water company, and underground cameras had to be used to locate him. The street had to be dug up because he wouldn't respond to any coaxing. Our pet liability insurance was canceled after payment (in the thousands) had been made, and every attempt to insure him with other companies failed miserably. An insurance broker who lives with one of my former students informed me that that he (Jamie) was blacklisted, although such a list doesn't "officially" exist. Jamie now only goes outdoors on a leash, and we're very careful about doors and windows.
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