HR Chat: Emotional Support Animal

You have decided to require all employees to return to the office full time after allowing remote work for the past five years. One employee has requested to bring an emotional support dog to the workplace as an accommodation.

As an employer, you may be wondering about your obligations, particularly because an emotional support animal is not considered a service animal under the ADA.  Are you required to allow the employee to bring their emotional support dog to work as a reasonable accommodation?

When an employee requests an accommodation, it’s important for employers to take the request seriously and handle the process appropriately. With a subscription to myHRcounsel, you can consult directly with an attorney to discuss the request and navigate the interactive process to determine whether the accommodation is reasonable and appropriate.