Question

Topic: Other

Management Approach | Human Resources

Posted by Marita on 4/30/2015 at 12:06 PM ET 250 Points
Would love to know your thoughts on the following, from a management and human resources perspective:
This individual was hired in a marketing position for a small (40 people) office. Among the things that attracted her to work there was the overall culture and their unusual dog friendly environment. As she has a dog, she thought it would be great to be able to bring her old dog to the office, she would be able to save some money in dog walking services and for this reason did not mind to get a lesser salary than her previous job (there are other small dogs in the office and a medium one). After a year working there, her boss talked to her and said that they were hiring a new person to join the company, this new person was terrified of big dogs and he did not want to make her uneasy, therefore, she was not allowed to bring her dog any longer, as bringing a dog into the office was a privilege and not a right. Please note, because her old dog is big (Labrador) she is the only one not allowed to bring it. She thought that perhaps this was a way to push her to quit, but her work is always very appreciated by all. Any comments?
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RESPONSES

  • Posted by Mike Steffes on 4/30/2015 at 1:58 PM Member
    Her work may be "appreciated by all", but if the boss doesn't like her it'll just get worse and worse there for her. This singling-out (with no effort toward accommodation) doesn't bode well.
  • Posted by Marita on 4/30/2015 at 2:17 PM Author
    Hi Mike, thanks for your comment. I don't think the boss does not like her, he always respects her opinion and talks to her frequently about new projects etc.
  • Posted by Jay Hamilton-Roth on 4/30/2015 at 3:18 PM Member
    If she's valued, maybe her company would pay for dog walking services for her Lab.
  • Posted by Gary Bloomer on 4/30/2015 at 4:45 PM Member
    One of these people has a job and keeping it depends on her not bringing the dog to work? Likewise, the new person has a job, and keeping it depends on liking big dogs? I suggest they both take steps to get over themselves.
  • Posted on 4/30/2015 at 6:08 PM Accepted
    Maybe the new person should learn to not be so terrified of big dogs. Since when is the new person more important than a current valued employee? My vote: The current employee can continue to bring her lab to work, and the new person can decide if he/she can adapt, or if maybe this isn't a place where he/she wants to work.
  • Posted by saul.dobney on 5/1/2015 at 4:17 AM Accepted
    Changing the company culture for the sake a new employee sounds odd - I don't see why you would do that for someone untried and untested. The most effective solution would be to help the new employee out of their dog-phobia - eg getting to know the dog, accompanying it on walks, giving it treats etc. If it's more prosaic, like a dislike of lab slobbering, then a small barrier to keep the dog from her working area could work.
  • Posted by Marita on 5/1/2015 at 12:34 PM Author
    Thank you so much for your comments and insight. So appreciated!
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