It’s common to encounter people with service dogs when you’re out and about town, such as at the grocery store, a sports arena, or a doctor’s office. These types of businesses are considered “places of public accommodation” under Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and as a general rule, they must allow individuals with disabilities to bring their service animals into the business in all areas where customers are allowed. But what happens when an employee wants to bring their service animal—or their emotional support animal (ESA)—into the workplace? Must an employer allow that? The answer is one you’ve probably heard more than once from your employment lawyer: it depends.
