Can my employer deny me to bring my service dog to work?
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Can my employer deny me to bring my service dog to work?
I have a service dog that I need to bring it to work. What can my employer legally ask of me and can they deny me? They are waiting me to get paperwork from my doctor before they tell me yes or no to bringing my service dog to work.
Asked on July 30, 2019 under Employment Labor Law, Texas
Answers:
SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 5 years ago | Contributor
They can deny the dog only IF it would be unreasonably dangerous or disruptive to have it at work: the employer's obligation is to make a "reasonable accomodation" to your condition, not do whatever you want or need. So, examples:
1) A well-behaved dog to an office: they have to let you have it.
2) A well-behaved dog when you are a security officer who mans a check point: they have to let you have it.
3) A dog that will not stop barking or is viscious: they refuse it, since it will disrupt work or possibly injure people.
4) A dog, no matter how well behaved, to a medical facility (e.g. if you are a nurse or health aide) or a food service establishment or food retailer: they can deny it because it is not hygenic to have a go in those settings.
5) A dog if you work around heavy equipment, conveyor belts (e.g. in a warehouse), etc.--they can deny it, because it's not safe to have an animal in that situation.
In short, if the dog can be there without imposing a health, safety, or liability issue, or disrupting work, they'd have to let you have it.
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