A workplace dispute over unpaid dog-sitting duties during office pet day.
My office does a monthly "Bring Your Dog to Work" day. My coworker Kevin brings his golden retriever, who is sweet but poorly trained — jumps on people, steals food, barks at the printer. Kevin sits in a different department and often asks me to "keep an eye on Biscuit" while he's in meetings. I've done it three times now. Last month I said no, I have my own work to do. Kevin said it would "only be 20 minutes" (it's always an hour). He's now telling people I "hate dogs." I love dogs. I just don't want to be an unpaid dog sitter at my job. My manager thinks it's a non-issue. Kevin says it's about "team spirit." I say if you can't watch your dog at work, don't bring your dog to work.
My dog Max is three years old and has been coming to dog-friendly days since he was a puppy. Sam started working here eight months ago. The office voted to have dog days before Sam was hired. Max does get excited and has jumped on people but he has never hurt anyone or caused any damage. Sam has complained to HR, to our manager, to me directly, and is now filing a case on a dog dispute website about my dog. If Sam has allergies or a fear of dogs, I have offered every accommodation. Sam does not. Sam just does not like dogs.
⚖️ The Verdict Is In
😤 Side B is right, but handled it badly
17 people weighed in on this dispute.
Official NACOL Ruling
This Court finds that while Kevin's golden retriever Max possesses the temperament of a furry tornado and Kevin's reliance on Sam as an unpaid canine babysitter (47% of jurors agree) does not constitute employment, Sam's escalation to HR and this tribunal over a polite "no" demonstrates the conversational equivalent of calling in an airstrike over a disagreement about thermostat settings (despite the 24% minority support). It is hereby ordered that Kevin keep his dog's paws off the plaintiff and his own schedule conflicts to himself, and that Sam accept that sometimes coworkers are simply inconsiderate without requiring legal intervention. Case closed.
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