Can you ask your ESA parrot not to repeat that.
So how seriously does your organisation take the well being of employees? Would it be ok to bring a pet that alleviates their anxiety into the office especially into a situation they considered stressful like an interview or disciplinary? Even if it was an unusual pet such as a companionable parrot, a cuddly rabbit, a therapy snake!
The therapeutic benefits of pets is well known. So the idea of an emotional support animal to help someone with mental health issues cope better with anxiety and stress seems logical. Naturally an individual would want to bring their ESA to work with them. This is more common in the US but increasingly HR teams in the UK are being asked to advise on how to respond to requests.
It would appear any animal can be an ESA not just dogs, cats , and fluffy rabbits some of the more unusual include smart pot bellied pigs, cheerful donkeys and companionably parrots, even large hairy spiders! Should they be allowed into the work place? The basic guidance is the animal must be quiet, well behaved and cause no disruption. Something that could sit on or under the employees desk would rule out some of the larger animals. The main criteria would be dealing with any objections raise by colleagues sharing the same work space or who might come across the animal during their work. These objections are likely to be due to allergies or phobias and possibly religious or cultural objections. Can these objections be accommodated by making reasonable changes and any health and safety issues be addressed. And should there already be an ESA in the office can they be kept safely apart.
Blair McPherson www.blairmcpherson.co.uk
