Employers' Legal Obligations to Accommodate Employees with Service Animals in the Workplace

Abstract

As the use of service animals by individuals with disabilities becomes more common, so do questions regarding their accommodation. Required accommodations for service animals in public places, including the workplace, are governed by a patchwork of federal, state, and local laws, often resulting in uncertainty for business owners and employers. This Q&A describes employers’ legal responsibilities regarding their employees’ use of service animals in the workplace, recommends strategies for when an employee makes a request to bring a service animal to work, and details best practices for accommodating employees who require service animals, with minimal disruption to coworkers.