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quote:

Originally posted by DigiNut

I don't think it really matters what type of work you do...you still need to act like a professional....whether you are a CEO of McDonalds or a Burger Flipper at McDonalds....you still need to act professionally.

I wouldn't find it appropriate or professional if I called a plumber and he showed up to my house with his pot belly pig.

Having pets at the workplace probably does reduce stress, cause fewer sick days, etc. but I figure it probably gets washed out by the amount of time you spend taking the dog outside, petting him, having others come over to play and pet the dog. You may have a worker who feels less stressed but is accomplishing less each day.

By the way, I have a dog, two cats and four fish.

quote:

Originally posted by Skipper What?! Cats would be way better in the workplace. ESPECIALLY MINE.

If I had to choose between dogs and cats at the workplace, I would choose cats....but if I had a cat, ferret and rabbit at the office.....I guarantee at least one of them isn't coming home alive.

quote:

Originally posted by Skipper see ya!

will you two finally get a room!

quote:

Originally posted by Skipper see ya!

hell ya.... people actually spend money here so im looking forward to getting a lot of it

And you can go out 7 nights a week and drink all night and no one cares!

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Originally posted by Abercrombie will you two finally get a room!

Only if its an executive suite at the sheraton

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Originally posted by ChemEnhanced If I had to choose between dogs and cats at the workplace, I would choose cats....but if I had a cat, ferret and rabbit at the office.....I guarantee at least one of them isn't coming home alive.

You know what's worst than a pet at the office?

A baby.

quote:

Originally posted by Skipper You know what's worst than a pet at the office? A wife.

fixed

quote:

Originally posted by Skipper You know what's worst than a pet at the office? A baby.

+1 A new mom brought her newborn in a few years ago, and it started to smell around the cubicles after it pooped.

quote:

Originally posted by Abercrombie +1 A new mom brought her newborn in a few years ago, and it started to smell around the cubicles after it pooped.

shouldn't she be on maternity leave for a year?

No. Why? Some places it's 6, some a year and some women come back when they feel ready.
If you feel you can be back at work -go for it. I don't think a baby has a place in a work environment but if you don't feel comfortable leaving your baby with a sitter or don't feel the need to pay 70$ a day for a daycare...I guess that's what you do.

quote:

Originally posted by DigiNut Professionalism is a vague and subjective term. For some businesses, it means every employee must wear a suit and tie. For others it just involves remembering to put your pants on in the morning. ...I think you need to loosen up. You're adopting an authoritarian view of professionalism based on your own personal experience and circumstances when in reality the concept tends to be quite malleable.

Hah. I think your views on professionalism have shifted since our last discussion.

In any event, I think ChemEnhanced raises a good point--frankly the only one worth addressing--that is:

quote:

Originally posted by ChemEnhanced It opens up a can of worms that shouldn't be opened. If you start allowing pets at work then why not allow children and family members at the work place. IMO, personal life and business life should be kept seperate,

As far as I can tell nobody has adequately addressed this point.

quote:

Originally posted by DigiNut We have one or two employees who've brought their kids in the afternoon because they had to leave school early. Maybe somebody's dog-sitter was out of town or had a prior engagement; it's the same sort of thing. People's personal lives will leak into their professional lives. You can't avoid this. Emergencies happen, their friends are all busy at work and can't take care of it, and other types of personal problems can only be dealt with during normal business hours, for obvious reasons.

Point taken. However, I don't think you and ChemEnhanced are actually in disagreement here. The issue is not about unavoidable situations which might force an employee to come to work with his or her pet/child--this sort of thing is to be expected--it is rather more generally about having the freedom and luxury to bring your kids and/or pets to work when you can very well make arrangements for them to be taken care of outside the office.

Sure work and personal lives bleed together, particularly when you have children - but you don't bring your kid to a meeting. You miss the meeting and go home with them.

Kids and pets are an avoidable distraction in the workplace, and on an irregular basis I'd say both are fine (kids moreso, pets less - since there is no excuse for having to bring a pet to the office outside of it being a fun program offered by the employer). but your workplace is NOT a daycare - mat leave moms bringing babies in for a visit is one thing, having a toddler run around while you're at your desk taking a conference call is another.

quote:

Originally posted by FunkyCrew shouldn't she be on maternity leave for a year?

The moms bring their babies while on mat leave, and even if you don't know the new mom all that well, you'd still be regarded as an ass if you stayed at your desk working.

As for my peeve, the same applies if you replace 'mutt/doggie' in my previous post with 'baby'

quote:

Originally posted by Abercrombie If the mutts stay quiet, that's fine. I would have a thing with my cubicle neighbours if I hear "Awww isn't my pookie wookie fuzz wuzzy little bear doggie hungy for a snackie snackie? *crunch* *crunch* *crunch*, isn't that good boy, yessie wessie, yum yum yum" all day.

quote:

Originally posted by Frenchie but if you don't feel comfortable leaving your baby with a sitter or don't feel the need to pay 70$ a day for a daycare...I guess that's what you do.

and what about your co-workers that have to deal with a baby 8 hours a day? that's just plain disrespectful
nevermind the baby itself won't be enjoying such an environment

That's why I mentioned previously that if you have your own office that is shut off by a door ..you're most likely to have privacy and there for not necessarily disrupting others as much.
I still think you shouldn't bring pets or children to work but I suppose desperate times call for desperate measures?

quote:

Originally posted by Frenchie That's why I mentioned previously that if you have your own office that is shut off by a door ..you're most likely to have privacy and there for not necessarily disrupting others as much. I still think you shouldn't bring pets or children to work but I suppose desperate times call for desperate measures?

ah no I was thinking more of an open concept office.. that would be very distracting

yeah def - if it's an emergency, no biggie
but making a habbit out of it - not so good

What if the breed is considered a "working dog"?!?

quote:

Originally posted by rabbitjoker What if the breed is considered a "working dog"?!?

If it can type my reports for me then I guess it can come to work.

quote:

Originally posted by rabbitjoker What if the breed is considered a "working dog"?!?

Is that like a 'working girl'? If so, we need more of those around here.

If the army gets to bring their dog to work (via helicopter!!!), then so should I.

quote:

Originally posted by rabbitjoker If the army gets to bring their dog to work (via helicopter!!!), then so should I.

Lol! Love the Doggles

quote:

Originally posted by English Rachel Doggles

quote:

Originally posted by ChemEnhanced I don't think it really matters what type of work you do...you still need to act like a professional....whether you are a CEO of McDonalds or a Burger Flipper at McDonalds....you still need to act professionally.

Again you use the word as if it has some universal definition. Either you ignored everything I just wrote or you just can't fathom that anybody would define it differently. Either way, you're wrong.

quote:

Originally posted by evil_cookie The issue is not about unavoidable situations which might force an employee to come to work with his or her pet/child--this sort of thing is to be expected--it is rather more generally about having the freedom and luxury to bring your kids and/or pets to work when you can very well make arrangements for them to be taken care of outside the office.

This is true. ChemEnhanced didn't really say in the OP whether this was happening occasionally or every day. If it's happening all the time then I agree it's too much, not because it's "unprofessional", but because it's disrespectful to other employees. Of course, if everybody else is OK with it and/or the office has a pets-allowed policy, then I see no problem with it.

It's important to be mindful of other employees - phobias, allergies, general need to concentrate, etc. - but I'm not buying the nebulous arguments about professionalism and productivity.

quote:

As far as I can tell nobody has adequately addressed this point.

I don't think it's such a slippery slope. There's a difference between a pet and a child. Quite frankly, pets are better-behaved, as long as they've been socialized and trained. They can't talk or open doors, they require far less attention and if necessary they can be leashed, put outside, tied to a chair, or otherwise kept away from other employees if they get too wild. This doesn't work with a human, as anybody who's ever seen a tantrum or heated argument can attest to.

Again, this all hinges on the pet being well-trained and/or quiet. A noisy and rambunctious dog is obviously no better than a crying infant.

quote:

Originally posted by DigiNut Again you use the word as if it has some universal definition. Either you ignored everything I just wrote or you just can't fathom that anybody would define it differently. Either way, you're wrong.

you are right...there is no universal definition for professionalism as whats deemed as acting professional changes with every job however; when you bring your personal life to work....IMO....thats not being professional, regardless of what type of job you do.

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