Service Dogs and Work

[diabeticgonewild]

So, when I graduate from college, I am concerned about an SD and work.

What would you do if you had a job interview?

I want to avoid a situation where discrimination can take place, mostly because of insurance reasons and possibly missing work. I have multiple medical problems, that are not "visible". In this circumstance, how would you handle an interview?

Also, how would you confront them with the whole D issue, not only to mention the SD.

I would be working in a competitive and professional environment.

[Kirsten]

That's a tough one.  If you show up without the SD for the interview the question is going to be whether you actually need one on the job.  But if you show up with one, you might be discriminated against (not be selected though otherwise qualified) because you'd be outing yourself on being disabled.

It depends a lot on what you want.  What I want is a pleasant work environment.  I figure if they're going to have an issue with the service dog I'd rather know it up front and I'd rather not work for a bigot.  So if it were me, I'd show up with my service dog.

Regarding the disability itself, they aren't allowed to ask you about it.  You don't have to volunteer any information about any disability you might have unless and until you make a request for a reasonable accommodation.  In that situation, they have a right to ask questions and get certain details of your disability so they can offer an accommodation or even make a counter offer to what you request. 

Let's say you're hearing impaired and you ask for a special phone designed for people with hearing impairments that lets you set the volume and also helps screen out background noise.  They might counter with an offer of an amplifier attachment for a regular phone.  If the amplifier will meet your basic needs, you have to accept the amplifier, even if the special phone would be better or would be what you prefer.  They have to be given that opportunity to offer something that is less costly to them, and in order to do that, they have to have some details on what they are trying to accommodate.

So if you need an accommodation, I'd suggest just being direct about it.  And if you don't, then don't bring it up (because you don't have to).

[cowlypso]

Well, technically the dog is an accommodation.  So you either take the dog with you as your way of informing them that you need the accommodation, or you wait until they hire you, then you tell them you want the accommodation of your dog. 

I went for a job interview earlier this summer.  I went ahead and took Bear with me, and it was no problem.  The guy asked about Bear, and if he was friendly and stuff.  Bear had his first ride in a golf cart.  I ended up not getting the job, but it was a matter of experience rather than the dog. 

[xmandiex]

I think you can be just as competitive with the dog as without. Especially if you take the time to explain that the dog won't in any way interfere with your work or anyone else's, and maybe if they show some interest have the dog perform a task or two to show that you really do have a thoroughly trained animal. Most normal people think service dogs are awesome, so if they see that you have a true dog you should be golden and it then goes to experience/the interview, not the dog.

[bj2circeleb]

I have not gotten jobs because of the job, (they even had to nerve to say that too me!!)

I would however rather have found out this way. As Kirsten said, if someone does not want to accept me for who I am, and Brooke is a part of me, then I am not willing to work for them. The reality as I see it, and as I have experienced it, is that discrimination will occur, but whether you see that as a good thing or a bad thing is up to you. I feel that I have the added advantage over people without disabilities of finding out upfront what sort of people they really are, and I would rather find out earlier rather than later.

The biggest issue is how comfortable you are talking about your disability, and not allowing it to dominate the interview. If you can talk about things very matter of factly, like, "I'm blind and I will need to use screen reading softward and my guide dog will get me here, but this will have no impact on my job performance because of .........". You need to explain to them in detail what you can do, rather than what you can't do, and the most important thing, is to not be embarrassed by your disability, and to be able to talk about it in a really matter of fact way. Explain that the dog toilets only on command and that you will not be needing to take time off from work, even for a few minutes to take the dog out, as this will be done during scheduled break times. Say that as the dog toilets on command if they have a place they would prefer you to take the dog, that you are more than happy to do that, and that you always pick up after the dog.  Explain that the dog is confident and happy to do four hour long downstays, and will never bark, nor make any other sounds, nor disturb you or anyone else in the workplace. Most employers just really need reassuring that the dog will not mean that you will be taken away from your work, make a mess, disturb other people, etc.

[Rovingrebel]

Dear Diabeticgonewild,
Since your disability is non-apparent. It is up to you if you want the interviewer to know you have a disability before you say anything. If you are truly stressed about what they may think about your dog, this stress could affect your ability to interview at your best. You might like to read the Job Accommodation Network's pre-employment do's and don't documenthttp://www.jan.wvu.edu/media/preofferfact.doc

[Sheenar]

Explain that the dog is confident and happy to do four hour long downstays, and will never bark, nor make any other sounds, nor disturb you or anyone else in the workplace. Most employers just really need reassuring that the dog will not mean that you will be taken away from your work, make a mess, disturb other people, etc.

  Oops...does that mean that I may not get the job if they find out that Pebbles snores?!?

I also am facing graduation (in May!) from college and job interviews/whatnot. I say bring your dog since he/she is a part of you. Like I tell people, Pebbles and I are a team --wherever I go, she goes! And if an employer doesn't like it, then their business is not the place for me to work and God has somewhere else for me to be.

[Shidash]

Work... how much does force does your dog exert and how much is your dog displaced from its' original position? I can find that out, but as far as vocations go I have no suggestions.

[diabeticgonewild]

Thanks for the advice. I am not sure if the SD lifestyle is appropriate for me yet, but I have consulted with my doctor, and she says than and SD would be beneficial. Work is one of my primary concerns, as acceptance of an SD at work is the most important issues for me at this time.

And yes, you guys are completely right. If the workplace is not accepting of the SD (given that the SD is properly trained, health, perfect tempearment, and clean), then they probably are not people you would want to work with.

[ronco3765]

Reading about this topic has me wondering if I might be asking too much of my dog. I have one day a week where I must work for 6 straight hours. I bring my dog, no problem and I take him out at noon or any time I wish if need be but the dog is trained to not empty while working and I am beginning to wonder if this is just too long a stretch for a dog to be under a table on a down for that long?  I'm considering taking my chances and leaving him behind since I am starting to feel mean putting him through this. He does get up and comes to the washroom with me each time I go and I do take him out for a 15 minute break hoping he will relieve himself, he just doesn't go is all. When we leave I stop by a field and release him and he runs around for a while and then empties so he never seems to  be in a big rush. It's the length of time having him on a down that is bothering me.  Any feelings on this from any one??? And yes, he does have water at all times.

[Rovingrebel]

Dear Ronco,
Dogs typically sleep for up to 18 hours a day biologically. I worked full time (40 hours plus) a week with my last service dog. I needed him at work to help me get to work, pick up things I dropped, and assist with doors. If you are concerned your dog is bored consider you disability and other thing he could do to assist you during work. If you were to leave your dog at home, chance are pretty good he would do the same thing at home he does at the office.... lay down and wait. Is he showing signing of stress at the office?
Just my opinion.

[ronco3765]

RovingRebel I had to laugh when I read your answer....it never occured to me that when we are home he does the same thing...sleeps by my side all day whichever room I am in. The only time I wake him is if I drop something or need him to open doors, get some items out of the dryer since my dryer is too low for me to bend. When I get up from a chair he stands up so I can hold him for balance if I don't use my power chair. I guess I thought of him laying all day with nothing to do, but you're right, he does the same at home except for when the dog walker takes him for his daily romp in the park. No, he doesn't look bored at all, he actually enjoys being there as he gets a lot of attention from everyone. If I am too weak to take him out someone is always eager to take him for me, this was a bit of a problem since he didn't want to leave me but we've overcome that.
Guess I am so used to thinking he needs to be home on a cushy floor or his bed that I never realized it would be less boring for him when he's with me.  That's what I love about this place, somebody is always here to make us use our noodle. Thanks for the input.

[Kirsten]

If you give him an opportunity to toilet at least once every four hours, then you aren't being mean to a healthy adult dog.  Like Rebel said, they spend most of their time sleeping anyway.  Lots and lots of service, hearing and guide dogs go to work for eight hour shifts with their humans and work a 40 hour week.  They get a potty break at lunch time and a chance to stretch their legs, and they're fine.

Now I do ask a different kind of down-stay for my service dog than I ask in competition obedience.  In competition obedience, I don't want my dog lying flat out, shifting sides, or otherwise fidgeting.  I call that "down."  In service work, I don't care if he stands up, stretches, and lies back down in a different position.  I don't care if he puts his head down and snoozes.  I just want him to stay put in one location, not one position.  I call that "rest," to make a distinction for him between the kind of stay I want for competition and the kind of stay I want for service work.

Given a choice between going with me and doing a long stay vs staying at home, I know my dog prefers to be with me.

[ronco3765]

After reading Rovingrebel's post I have to agree Karen. I guess I might be the one getting overtired and attribute  the way I feel to my dog feeling the same way. but thinking about this my dog doesn't ask for the door for hours on end when we are at home either, guess he's just a good "holder"..
Like you I do not expect my dog to hold a down stay position when he is working. I don't want him wandering around the room but he can lay any way he wants to make himself comfy when he is working. At trials I say a firm Down and STAY which means do not move a whisker...but when we are out working I just tell him "down" and add "relax."This is his cue to make himself comfy. I also remove his vest to make sure he doesn't get hot and bothered. 

[cowlypso]

I don't know what kind of work you do, but if it's possible, you could always take in a blanket or bed for him while you're at work.  I have a quilted blanket that I can take with me when Bear's going to be laying on tile floor for a long time.  Last spring, I had a 1.5 hour class in a room with tile floors, so I took that with me to put down on the floor in there.