Regulations for taking your dog to work
June 07, 2023
Bringing your dog to work is becoming increasingly common in coworking spaces and dog-friendly offices. While this can be a very rewarding experience, it requires following certain essential rules to ensure everyone’s well-being.
At Coworkea, we warmly welcome dogs to our coworking spaces. To ensure that everyone gets along as smoothly as possible, we’ve established a policy that every owner must sign before bringing their dog to work.
Why are there rules about bringing your dog to work?
There’s nothing automatic about allowing dogs in the office. To ensure that the “dog-friendly” experience remains enjoyable for all coworkers, it’s essential to follow a few basic rules. Having a dog at work can be a source of stress for some colleagues, trigger allergies, or disrupt concentration. That’s why a clear set of guidelines is essential.
We are pleased to share our policy, which we ask dog owners to sign before entering our premises.
The Coworkea Charter: Rules for Bringing Your Dog to Work
Here's our Coworkea Charter - make good use of it 🙂
Insurance & liability
- Owners are responsible for their pets, and must provide up-to-date third-party insurance. Only dogs are allowed, with the exception of category 1 & 2 dogs.
• Owners may not leave their pets unattended in the coworking space.
Being a good neighbor at the office with your dog
- In the interests of good example and good neighborliness, and if it's still necessary to specify it, when walking in the street, litter must be collected.
Socialization: Criteria for Admitting Dogs to the Workplace
• Dogs with a dominant temperament are not permitted in our coworking space.
- Noisy dogs that tend to bark frequently are not accepted.
• Before being admitted, a dog must come with its owner for a trial period to assess its social compatibility with the existing “pack.” This trial period is essential to ensure the group’s harmony.
Dog Hygiene and Health in the Workplace
• All dogs must be up to date on their required vaccinations (proof must be provided annually). In accordance with veterinary recommendations, regular health checkups are required.
- Sick or convalescent dogs are not allowed on site.
- Each dog must maintain good hygiene (regular deworming, regular brushing, showering, etc.).
- All dogs must be housebroken (puppies undergoing housebreaking may only be kept in closed, private offices).
The dog's living area on the premises
• Each owner may set up a small sleeping area at the foot of their desk. Only quiet dog toys are allowed so as not to disturb other workers.
- Water bowls may be left at the dog's disposal, but not food. The owner should try to have his dog eat before coming to work, or failing that, be present at mealtime to avoid any conflict over food.
- Dogs are not allowed in the kitchen or toilets.
- Dogs are tolerated off-leash, provided the peace and quiet of other workers is not disturbed.
Termination of Access Rights
• Coworkea reserves the right to refuse entry to a dog in the coworking space at any time, without providing a reason.
The Benefits of Bringing Your Dog to Work
Numerous scientific studies have demonstrated the benefits of having pets in the office. Bringing your dog to work helps reduce stress, improves the work environment, and encourages social interaction among colleagues. Dog-friendly coworking spaces like Coworkea are therefore becoming increasingly popular among freelancers and remote workers.
To learn more about the coworking spaces available at Coworkea and our pet policy, please feel free to contact us directly.
Legal Regulations for Animals in the Workplace
In France, there is no law that explicitly prohibits bringing a dog to work, but the employer or facility manager has the right to regulate this practice. According to the French Labor Code, the employer is responsible for the health and safety of employees, which means that the presence of animals must be subject to prior approval and clear rules.
It is therefore essential that you sign our policy before bringing your dog to work at our office.