Chapter 3
Case Study #1

Allowing pets in the workplace provides employers a low-cost opportunity to boost morale when many companies are cutting back. For dog owners, this benefit may attract employees and increase retention by providing increased job satisfaction. Pets in the workplace can create a positive environment. Studies show that having dogs in the workplace lowers stress and fosters increased communication among employees promoting a more unified workforce. Finally, allowing pets in the workforce could encourage people to work longer hours, which will increase a company’s bottom line.
As a HR manager of a company, the policies I would set and implement would be require the owner be in complete control of the animal at all times, require employees to bring documentation showing the pet is up to date on its vaccinations, require owners have comprehensive liability insurance covering all injuries, expect employees to sign an indemnification agreement to pay the cost of defending any lawsuit relating to a dog-bite, and require owners to have a way to transport the animal in the event it creates a problem at the office. Any pet brought to the office must be well behaved and not aggressive. An employer cannot allow pets that are not housebroken or bark excessively. A business should consider a no-tolerance or a three-strike policy that prohibits dogs that break the policy.
I would allow Ms. Elizabeth Brooke to take her pet to work as long as she agrees with the policy set by the HR manager. She can get a hold of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires that an otherwise qualified employee with disabilities be given meaningful access to the same programs and services that other employees enjoy. In those circumstances where employees describe provision of an animal to be a “reasonable accommodation” for certain impairments, courts apply a balancing test, weighing the benefit of the assistance an animal might provide against the hardship a disruption might impose on others in the same workplace, including customers and co-workers.

Citations https://www.thebark.com/content/dog-law-dogs-workplace http://www.bostonglobe.com/business/2014/09/27/should-companies-allow-employees-bring-their-dogs-work/4TPCRJBHdG5DTUdGCqovDP/story.html