Are Emotional Support Dogs Allowed At Work

By angela adams cebs sphr director human resource services published july 24 2018.

Are emotional support dogs allowed at work.

The americans with disabilities act ada requires employers to make a. Indeed the ada does not contemplate the use of animals other than those meeting the definition of service animal. However some handlers prefer to have one. Emotional support animals therapy animals and companion animals are seldom allowed to accompany students in public schools.

An emotional support dog does not need to wear a special vest. Emotional support dogs can perform an important role in the life of a person. The work or task a dog has been trained to provide must be directly related to the person s disability. Emotional support animals the workplace.

Service animals are working animals not pets. Neither the ada nor new jersey s service animal law includes pets or what are often referred to as emotional support animals. Like service dogs emotional support dogs are not required to wear identifying equipment such as a vest or a harness. An employee wants to bring his dog to work with him claiming it s an emotional support animal that helps him with stress and anxiety do we have to allow this.

Dogs whose sole function is to provide comfort or emotional support do not qualify as service animals under the ada. The tasks or work the animal does must be directly related to the person s disability.