Annoying Coworker with Allergies Insists that Employee Give Away His Dog Entirely

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  • 01
    Font - AITA for not caring that my coworker is allergic to dogs. I work in a warehouse with about 26 other people. Been there for five years now. I have a Japanese Akita. These dogs shed a lot. One of my new coworkers is allergic to dogs. This has caused an issue. When they use the break room they start sneezing a lot. I have pictures of my dog at my work station. So they know that I have him. It's not a secret or anything.
  • 02
    Font - They went to the boss and said that they needed to be accommodated because of their medical condition. He came to me and asked if I could please do anything. So I started keeping a clean set of coveralls in my locker and I put them on as soon as I get to work. Apparently this was not good enough. So I started just staying out of the break room. Nope. If they came into my zone they started sneezing. They told my boss that I should be forced to get rid of my dog because it was affecting the
  • 03
    Font - The thing is I know that I'm not the only one with a dog. At least three of the guys I work with have dogs. I told my boss that I will never consider rehoming my dog and they can just take some benadryl or something. Now they are crying that they might have to quit because they can't work here. I just don't care but they certainly do. They are saying that I am an asshole for prioritizing my dog over their livelihood. Edit My boss got me the extra coveralls and arranged for the extra washi
  • 04
    Product - Druidgoddess. 7 hr. ago RS Take the dogs picture down. Say he's gone now. Keep dog. 19.1k Reply Share Repulsive-Seesaw-96 OP - 6 hr. ago Good idea. Thanks. 8.0k Reply Share
  • 05
    Font - Cut Te LOVE UhohEaten ByAGrue 6 hr. ago And then, when coworker's allergies mysteriously clear up, go to HR and manager and tell them the whole story, citing coworker for creating a hostile work environment for you. 10.7k Reply
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    Font - GirlL1997. 6 hr. ago Yes yes yes. I was just thinking there is no way they are sooo allergic to this one particular dog. 4.0k Reply
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    Font - Daligheri 7 hr. ago. edited 3 hr ago Your job should never be in a position to ask you to change your home life. What you do off the clock, who or what you have in your house is your own business so long as it does not affect work performance or direct safety of others (more so being drugs in the case someone is a driver, etc) but it is not your responsibility to cater your choice in having pets to someone with an allergy.
  • 08
    Font - What is this coworker going to do if they see a dog in the street? A service dog in a coffee shop? The world can't cater to them. They have to cater to their own issues. NTA and take it up with HR. 6.2k Reply Share
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    Font - Gizzycav 6 hr. ago edited 4 hr. ago Also, I find it super suspect this coworker is supposedly so allergic to dogs they react even when OP changes into clean coveralls. Their co-worker couldn't ride airplanes without having a reaction, even if there wasn't a dog on the flight. Also, if three other co-workers have dogs, then why is OP specifically getting singled out? I'm not saying the co- worker is faking their allergy, but something's not adding up here. Edit: typo 2.2k Reply Share
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    Font - 3 LongjumpingLab3092 · 7 hr. ago I read the title and came to say Y T A because I thought you were actually bringing the dog to work and ignoring their allergies. But no, they're just moaning that you have a dog. If you've volunteered to change your overalls and stay out of the break room, you've done everything realistically possible to accommodate them. It's an absolute joke that they'd even suggest making a random coworker rehome their dog when, as you said, they can just take some ben
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    Font - and mishka1776 - 6 hr. ago Beyond accommodating. So he is forced to take his breaks in his office alone, while the others get to prepare their food and socialize in the break room? 863 Reply Share
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    Font - Owain-X 6 hr. ago It could be argued that part is already an unreasonable accommodation. 504 Reply Share Dlraetz1 5 hr. ago 100%. I would absolutely argue this is an unreasonable accomidation 4170 Reply Share
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    Font - miasabine edited 5 hr. ago 6 hr. ago. Yup. I'm allergic to cats and jumped to the same conclusion you did based on the title, I wouldn't be happy if a coworker brought their cat to work either. But nah, this is just bonkers. The absolute gall of asking a coworker to rehome a beloved pet is just astounding. Coworker can take ceterizine, loratidine, fexofenadine, or all three, like I do. This isn't all on OP, who has already made very reasonable accommodations, and some less reasonable ones
  • 14
    Font - Early-Light-864 · 7 hr. ago Pooperintendant [51] NTA. Allergies are protected under ADA, but dictating the home life of other employees is not a "reasonable accommodation" Reasonable accommodations would be things like scheduling him in a separate work area, allowing time off for doctors, stuff like that. 2.2k Reply Share
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    Font - distrustfuldiscovery 6 hr. ago I was looking for someone to talk about reasonable accommodations. OP has already gone above and beyond by avoiding the breakroom. If further accommodations need to be made, then employer can determine if there is anything else reasonable that can be done. OP is already changing clothes and washing up. If coworker is still unable to get through the day, they need to be in contact with their allergist. 492 Reply Share

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