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.
