Dog Phobia At Work... A Strange One.

[Smowball]

My best friends daughter has recently started working at a small family run business, in their office. There are several other people in the office with her. She also has a severe dog phobia, always has had. She told them about it on her application form when she joined.
Last week she was at her desk and turned round to be met face to face with a German Shepherd literally sat behind her chair. She completely freaked out, ran to the toilets sobbing and called her mum as she didn’t know what to do. Mum says to go to the boss and ask what was going on. Short answer was this other member of staff has bought a dog, realised she can’t leave it all day and is now bringing it to work! She was then told to apologise to the dog owner for her ‘over-reaction’!
She needs the job, and is looking for a different one as we speak, but they refuse to stop the dog coming in - they’ve told her she needs to go for counselling. Your thoughts??

[spathiphyllum]

This is a good opportunity for her to get over her dog phobia. I would have refused to apologise.. how stupid.

When you say 'they' who is the highest member of staff and have they been consulted? I would complain that the dog is a distraction.

Would everyone be allowed to bring their pets in or children because they can't stay at home?

Odd situation, sounds like the 'boss' likes dogs, but hasn't thought about the consequences

[SparklyKid]

Tell her to buy some dog biccies, pat it on the head, say, give me your paw and make friends. Alternatively find a new job, or stay indoors,

[Smowball]

The company owner. And I’ve just this sec heard that today he has also allowed another member of staff to bring a new puppy in!

[spathiphyllum]

Tell her to take in a tennis ball, and lob it across the office, the dog will go bolting, probably cause some issues and get kicked out of the office.

[spathiphyllum]

Smow it's going OTT.. Next thing you know people will be bringing their children in also. Where do these dogs poop? eat? Do they take time out of peoples work day to cause distraction? This will not last long.

[SparklyKid]

Tell her to get a dog, a pit bull would be good, sort the other dogs out.

[spathiphyllum]

Or a Japanese akita

[SparklyKid]

How about a donkey.

[Rockrose]

Their rules - if its a small co then they can do what they want with regards to dogs.
I will take her job - sounds like heaven to me.

[anneasquith]

Genuine phobias should not be taken lightly, new job I'm afraid.

[Smowball]

I’ve never heard anything like it. I’ve said to her get a pet snake and take it in, say you couldn’t leave it alone!

[Tilly2]

It could be worse, she could have a flea-bitten cat slinking around her legs.

[spathiphyllum]

Yes, dogs never get fleas

[spathiphyllum]

Smow in reality i would make a formal complaint to the highest person in the company, if they did nothing and i couldn't bear to be there then she will have to hand in her notice and give reason why. She could also consult a doctor maybe to get proof of the phobia?

Maybe she could act allergic and then they'd have to get rid of the dogs.

[Baldric]

Would be easier to get rid of her I would have thought ;o)

[bednobs]

well if she's still working there, she must have at least in some small part already got over it. What a strange thing to put on an application form though! i have NEVER put my spider phobia on an application form

[Smowball]

Yes I think I will . I agree if it’s a tiny family company they are more likely to do what they fancy but it’s highly unusual to just let people take their dogs to work! And hope she finds another job soon!

[AuntLydia]

A young girl coming into an established office then creating a fuss because she does not like what goes on in there will never work. She will have to either address her phobia or leave.

[bednobs]

does make me wonder if they are trying to get rid of her

[AuntLydia]

Smowball its not that unusual for a small family firm to be more relaxed in their attitude to all sorts of things. I too cannot believe this young lady put her dog phobia on an application form, why would you?