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Personnel Policy Board approves animals-in-workplace and updated reasonable-accommodations policies
Summary
The Sarpy County Personnel Policy Board approved a new animals-in-the-workplace policy clarifying that only service, trained therapy animals and a designated courthouse facility dog are permitted, and approved updates to the county reasonable-accommodations policy to align handling of medical releases with FMLA procedures.
The Sarpy County Personnel Policy Board on June 18 approved a new animals-in-the-workplace policy and an updated reasonable-accommodations policy intended to align medical-release procedures with the county’s FMLA handling.
HR Director Jody Bridal presented the animals-in-the-workplace policy, which says only service animals, trained therapy animals and the courthouse facility dog will be allowed in county workplaces and lays out expectations for animals in county facilities. Board members asked whether the policy should specify whether a service animal must be formally trained or whether documentation supporting a need for an animal would be sufficient; the board approved an amendment to clarify that both certified service animals and trained therapy animals are intended to be included.
Bridal also summarized edits to the reasonable-accommodations policy previously discussed at a prior meeting. The update specifies that employees may be asked to sign a limited release containing questions directly related to a requested accommodation and that the county will handle that information consistent with FMLA procedures. Board members had no further questions and approved the update.
Both policies were approved by motion and a recorded vote of the Personnel Policy Board. The board also approved minutes for the May 21, 2025 meeting with an amendment noting that Dianne Bruce was absent from those minutes.
Motions and votes: The board voted to approve the May 21 minutes (motion by Davidson, second by Bennett; carried by voice vote with four members present, one absent). The Animals in the Workplace policy was approved (motion by Bennett, second by Davidson; carried, four present, one absent) with language clarifying that “service animal or trained therapy animal” will be recognized. The reasonable-accommodations update was approved by motion (mover Davidson, second Bennett; carried by the members present).
The board recorded that no members of the public signed up to speak on these items and that no formal comment period was provided prior to the votes. The policies will be implemented by county HR; the Animals policy will be revised to include the agreed language about service or trained therapy animals before being posted.
