When a coworker's hobbies bleed over to work (TL;DR: I work with a furry).

Question

So my friend works with a gentleman who dresses up as a dog recreationally. No one at the office cares what he does outside of work, but he's worn it to work a few times and even wore it to a professional conference, and taught a class in it. When she told me this story, I was horrified (and also surprised this even happened). Anyone else have any coworkers whose hobbies bleed over to work? Most of the ones I've experienced have been innocuous, like my former boss who played bagpipes so he was asked to play at a work event once.

John Malone · Answer

I agree! HR should step up to the plate.  And do their jobs.

Anonymous · Answer

The man's behavior is immature, unprofessional and indefensible. It's a workplace not a circus but obviously the HR people are too gutless in this 'anything goes' society to stop his inappropriate behavior.

Sabrina Markon · Answer

But is it a dog-friendly office? :) Maybe that's how he rationalized it, if he identifies as a dog, I mean. A lot of people think distractions and bad allergic reactions for some people from dogs at work are ok, after all. It seems above and beyond weird, but I thought well if he's doing great work and it isn't hurting anyone? It could make the company look foolish though if clients observe this...

Karin E · Answer

Unless it has been pre-approved by management for some reason (team building, Take Your Child to Work Day, etc.), it should not be allowed. It is unprofessional and a distraction.

Evelyn Clark, SHRM-SCP · Answer

Completely agreed that this is inappropriate and unprofessional.   Unsure that this would be acceptable even with 'Bring your dog to work day'  on the schedule.  I've had to have all sorts of difficult conversations in my HR role; it's simply  part of the job though I can't fathom letting this situation develop as it has. This is concerning.

Dawn S. Cross · Answer

Wow, how odd.  As you stated, off hours is one thing, but work hours....

I work for a finance company and this definitely would not be approved of .  But even then, I used to work for a company where “almost” anything was ok and even this would not be.

Sometimes, people just don’t know where to draw the line and it will eventually come back to haunt them.

Balanced782185 · Answer

Had a parent attend a student disciplinary meeting dressed as a clown. She even talked in her clown persona. It was not pretty.

Anonymous · Answer

I know coworkers who are doing that MediFast thing (powdered food), and segue any workplace topic (a media buy,  brainstorm, client call) to get everyone to join their MLM. They even place their before/after pics in their cubes! #eyeroll

Patricia Stewart · Answer

It’s nice to know your company doesn’t mess around when they say you can bring your whole self to work. I mean it’s weird but I guess if he does good work you don’t forget a business class taught by a furry. Now wether you paid attention to the subject or just kept trying not to think of him in a yiff pile is another story.

scorpio229 · Answer

That DOES seem rather strange to me! Do you work in a creative industry , where 'anything goes' or is he trying to make a point about the quality of individuals who have been hired by your company recently? Perhaps he may be attempting to make a point that unless the company 'big wigs' make some major personnel changes, the establishment could be going 'to the dogs.'  Could be.

When a coworker's hobbies bleed over to work (TL;DR: I work with a furry).

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