Excerpted from Virginia Employment Law Letter and written by attorneys at the law firms of DiMuroGinsberg, P.C.

According to the U.S. Humane Society, there are approximately 65 million dogs in 39 percent of U.S. households. With such a high number of furry friends in our homes, it's hardly surprising that taking our dogs to work has become a growing trend. According to a 2006 survey conducted by the American Pet Products Manufacturers Association (APPMA), nearly one in five U.S. companies allows pets at work.


Benefits of pets in workplace
At a time when there is an increased emphasis on balancing work-life issues, establishing a pet-friendly policy is one way for employers to help employees maintain a healthy work-life balance. Small to medium-sized businesses, particularly technology firms and creative agencies, have been the most receptive to allowing dogs at work. This is due in part to the fact that the fewer employees you have, the easier it is to reach a consensus on an appropriate workplace policy.

Dog-friendly policies can improve staff morale and camaraderie and encourage employees to work longer hours (since they don't have to rush home to let their dogs out at the end of the day). Also, a company with a dog-friendly policy will be more attractive to a dog lover. The APPMA survey indicated that having pets in the workplace offers a number of benefits, such as creating a more productive work environment, lowering stress and anxiety, improving overall emotional and physical health, decreasing employee absenteeism, and making employees more willing to work overtime. About now would probably be a good time for me to insert a disclaimer that I am somewhat biased in regard to this issue ? I've been bringing my 11- year-old Lhasa apso to the office for the past three years. Hence, I can personally attest to the decreased stress and anxiety as a result of the presence of my dog in the office.


Downside of pet-friendly workplaces
There can, of course, be issues with allowing employees to bring their pets to work. The most common complaint against allowing pets in the workplace is allergies. Although this is not an area presently fraught with litigation, employers that adopt pet-friendly policies should be mindful of potential legal actions by employees with allergies.

In one case in Pennsylvania, an employee sued her employer under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), alleging that the employer failed to accommodate her allergies. The employer was an assisted-living facility that housed two dogs and several cats during her employment.

The court dismissed the employee's claim, concluding that her allergy to cats and dogs didn't qualify as a disability under the ADA. Relevant to the court's holding were the facts that there was no evidence that the employee's physical reaction to the animals was so debilitating that it limited any major life activity and that her use of an inhaler and injections decreased any limitation allergies placed on her breathing.

Some employers have sought to accommodate both dog owners and allergic employees by having separate work areas. Others have adopted leash rules that restrict dogs from roaming into the allergic employee's work area. Also, employers have prohibited dogs from cafeterias, break rooms, restrooms, and conference rooms.

Another potential problem is people who are afraid or uncomfortable around dogs. Again, implementing a leash rule helps diminish that concern.


Staying out of the doghouse
Before instituting a pet-friendly workplace, you should first develop a workplace pet policy that realistically fits your work environment. Relevant considerations include whether pets will be allowed every day or perhaps just one day a week. Another issue is to address how many pets to allow in the office.

Pet-friendly policies vary from company to company, but most include several basic components:
" accommodating the needs of employees who have allergies or are afraid of animals (e.g., setting aside pet-free areas such as cafeterias, conference rooms, and restrooms);

" requiring that pets be kept on a leash or restricted to an office, cubicle, or crate;

" requiring that pets be housebroken; and

" requiring employees to clean up after their pets -- both inside and outside.

Other possible provisions include requiring pets to be properly groomed and treated with a flea preventative.

Only well-behaved pets that are comfortable and reliably safe around strangers should be allowed in the workplace. They shouldn't show any aggressive traits, such as growling, snarling, or biting, toward people or other animals. Even well-behaved dogs might not like mail or delivery persons, so it's a good idea to have dogs on a leash or restricted to an office or cubicle. Dogs also should have a water bowl and chew toys to keep them occupied -- however, loud squeaky toys or other items that might distract or annoy coworkers should be avoided.

A pet-friendly workplace isn't appropriate for all employers. If such a policy is well suited for your company, though, this is one minimally costly way to make your employees happy and perhaps more productive. Take a realistic look at your work environment, and if you think a pet-friendly policy is a good fit, implement a policy that keeps the health, safety, and happiness of your employees and their furry friends in mind.


Copyright 2008 M. Lee Smith Publishers LLC. VIRGINIA EMPLOYMENT LAW LETTER . VIRGINIA EMPLOYMENT LAW LETTER is a monthly publication provided as an educational service only to assist lay persons in recognizing potential problems in their labor and employment matters. It is not meant to be construed as legal advice. Readers in need of legal assistance should retain the services of competent counsel.