Service animals can help people navigate the world physically, mentally, and emotionally. However, they can present some challenges and issues in the workplace. Here are a few things you need to know:
- Accommodation for service animals generally is covered by Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act. As a result, private employers much make reasonable accommodations for workers with physical or mental impairments, except when there is an undue hardship.
- Employers should approach and consider service animals like they do any other reasonable accommodation.
- Besides dogs, the only other widely accepted service animal is the miniature horse. If, for whatever reason, you can’t accommodate this type of animal, your organization needs to find another way to accommodate the person’s needs.
- There is a blurring of the lines between service, therapy, and emotional support animals. In the end, a person attempting to enter your building with an animal needs to be prepared to answer two questions: Is the animal required because of a disability? What work or task has the animal been trained to perform? If the person can’t or won’t answer these questions, the employer has a right to refuse entry for the animal.
- Emotional support animals provide comfort but aren’t trained to perform a specific job or task. They are NOT considered service animals.
