Service Animals In The Workplace California

Service animals are not pets.

Service animals in the workplace california. If a service animal becomes too much of a disruption a workplace retains the ability to claim undue. The ADA defines a service animal as any dog or in some cases miniature horses that are. Like a wheelchair they are an extension of the person with a disability providing a valuable.

Advancements in animal training and alternative medical treatments mean that animals today can be much more than just pets. In the employment context the statutory schemes that require reasonable accommodation for disabilities are the California Fair Employment and Housing Act FEHA and the Americans With Disabilities Act ADA. Fellion and Patti C.

The service animal must be harnessed leashed or tethered while in public places unless these devices interfere with the service animals work or the persons disability prevents use of these devices. The animal must be free from offensive orders and display habits that are conducive to a professional workplaceeg it cannot urinate or defecate everywhere. Animals which meet this definition are considered service animals whether or not they have been licensed or certified by a state or local government.

Assistive animals differ from what employers may already come expect when accommodating an employees disability. That said California rules do allow employers to set the following limits on the use of all assistive animals in the workplace. McDowell Suite 180 Petaluma CA 94954 Tel.

Thanks to Californias Fair Employment and Housing Act job applicants and employees are protected from discrimination in the workplace due to a physical or mental medical disorder that is disabling potentially. Service animals are working animals not pets. Under the employment part of the ADA title I there are no specific guidelines for employers to follow when an individual with a disability wants to use a service animal in the workplace.

For additional information see JANs Just-In-Time Training Module. Dogs whose sole function is to provide comfort or emotional support do not qualify as service animals under the ADA. But what about comfort animals such as pigs snakes birds or cats.