Going to work in Paris with his cat, his dog? The town hall of the capital wishes to authorize its agents not being in contact with the public to work with their pet, subject to the agreement of the hierarchy and the colleagues. The City of Paris will “prolong exchanges with trade union organizations” for “allowing requesting agents who are not in contact with the public to come to work accompanied by their pets“, decided the city council, approving a wish presented by the opponent Florence Berthout, mayor (DVD) of the 5th arrondissement.

According to this text, written by mutual agreement with the majority on the left, the reception of an animal by an agent must be done with “the agreement of the head of the establishment and the other agents making up his work group”. “There are agents who love animals but others who are afraid of them”, underlined the deputy (PS) for human resources Antoine Guillou. Paris would thus imitate the neighboring town of Suresnes (Hauts-de-Seine), which since September 2020 has authorized its agents to come to their workplace accompanied by their pet. Grenoble and Nice have made similar decisions for dogs.

“Beneficial effects of the presence of an animal»

“Many scientific studies have shown the beneficial effects of the presence of an animal on health”, argued Florence Berthout, citing a 2017 study according to which this presence leads to a “23% reduction in the risk of cardiovascular disease». A pet in the workplace may “facilitate exchanges between colleagues”added the borough mayor, who says he has tried the experiment “in an unframed manner” in his town hall, and draws up a balance sheet “very encouraging”.

The idea is not unanimous within the municipal council. The elected member of the LR and related group Anne Biraben denounced a “false good idea, and a potential gas plant which the Parisian administration does not necessarily need”. “This wish is vague on the list of animals included”added Mrs. Biraben according to which a 2006 decree qualifies domestics, “apart from cats and dogs, horsesthem ferretspigs, camels, mice, peacocks, pheasants, carp or silkworms”.

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