An increasing number of people require animals to manage physical or mental disabilties. But what does that mean for the workplace?
The New York State Bar Association hosted a program to cover what employers should know if employees need a furry companion in the office. More than 180 people attended the webinar.
The speakers were:
Iyana Titus, chair of the Labor and Employment Section, led the program.
The panelists explained that service animals are trained to assist disabled people with tasks – like a reminder to take medication. Emotional support animals provide comfort, companionship, and reduce stress – often for people with psychological issues.
“An emotional support animal is not considered a service animal, because they’re not actually performing a task,” said Hancock. “Things like the comfort of the owner, that is not considered a task.”
While service animals are clearly defined under federal law, emotional support animals fall under the broader category of reasonable accommodations. New York City’s law is more specific and requires employers and employees to have a cooperative dialogue beforehand.
“That is a legally mandated, good faith conversation between the employer and the employee, in...
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