Service Animals In The Workplace California

Dogs whose sole function is to provide comfort or emotional support do not qualify as service animals under the ADA.

Service animals in the workplace california. 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. Animals which meet this definition are considered service animals whether or not they have been licensed or certified by a state or local government. Fellion and Patti C.

The ADA provides that service dogs can be in the workplace as a reasonable accommodation. As for documentation for service animals in the workplace the ADA does allow for an employer to request medical documentation for the need for the disabled person to need this accommodation. Perez April 29 2016.

That said California rules do allow employers to set the following limits on the use of all assistive animals in the workplace. Arrow Benefits Group 1465 N. What is a service animal.

The new definitions no longer use the same definition as at Civil Code section 54110 which specifically states that support animals. A blind employee should not need to prove the need for a seeing eye dog. Alerts people who are hearing impaired.

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. The cost to train a service animal can vary from 20000 to 50000. Service Animals in the Workplace and the Law.

Service animals are not pets. For additional information see JANs Just-In-Time Training Module. Most people are familiar with service animalstypically dogsthat assist people with disabilities at home and at work.