Time off work when your dog passes

Certainly doesn't happen in schools!

@Stolengoat Not to everybody.

I have no doubt that to some people their pets are the most important things in their lives and I have no issue with that. I've had pets that I have deeply cared about , however, in the grand scheme of things kids and humans in general are more important.

Public sector I suspect 😂 our money

Compassionate leave would be a nonsense - where do you draw the line? Can I have time off for my cat? My hamster? My goldfish.

My dad was asked for compassionate leave as a manager about 15 years ago before people got really crazy about dogs and I think is response was fair. She was allowed to take short notice annual leave, or have it off sick and therefore count towards her sickness absence.

Well as you never see your pet it won’t really affect you as you are always at work it seems. Or is that the old wfh where you can walk the dog whilst at work 😉

Quite right too - distraction much better - healthier for their future resilience as well.

I make no apology for having the day off work after taking my beloved 17 year old cat to be euthanised. I didn’t stop crying all day. I had a very supportive workplace and my colleagues were lovely.

This!

@YeOldeGreyhound that’s a lovely response and very true, some comments on here are just nasty.

my dog is almost 16, I’ve had home from 7 weeks old, he is part of our family, was my comfort when I lost my baby, I’ll be devastated when he dies.

To those who replied with “it’s just a dog, well , they are just ignorant”

@Stolengoat I do have an answer but thought it was entirely apparent in the thread.

Obviously you think there is no comparison between kids and pets because kids are more important to you. Other people think there is no comparison between kids and pets because their pets are more important to them. People without children for whatever reason, the elderly/lonely and just those that don't want children but do have pets.

I didn't think you would have an answer.

@Stolengoat I don't need to really, the answers are here in this thread.

Unfortunately for some people who live alone and have no human family, a long time cat or dog is usually their family which unfortunately isn’t formally recognised as yes it could be very complicated to administer. I agree with you, it’s best just to keep a few days AL or flex if you have it, to the side. I mean it’s best practice anyway to do it for yourself or if your pet is poorly and you have the same issue.

Lots of horrible comments in this thread.

The loss of a pet can feel worse than the loss of a human relative. This is something that is known, and can take some people by surprise.

www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/article/2024/aug/15/the-surprising-shame-of-pet-loss-you-are-supposed-to-think-humans-are-more-important-than-animals

I am sorry to read the stories of people losing their beloved pets on this thread. Even more sad to see people saying "it is just a dog" and saying people lack resilience, or are "workshy".

Grief affects everyone differently, and it is not a competition.

I thought I would post this here too, if anyone is going through it, or about to.

www.bluecross.org.uk/pet-loss-support

I talk about my dog a lot at work. My colleagues know how much I love him. My boss already knows he won’t see me for a few days after I lose him. He said he would rather lose me for a few days to lose me forever as he knows I will tell him to shove his job up his arse if he demanded that I came into work.

There's no such thing as 'I've just broken up with my boyfriend of 10 years" leave which would be somewhat similar. Compassionate leave for the death of a close family member is because there are usually a lot of things to be done and require your attendance/attention.
I find work is the best place to be when terrible things happen. Such a great distraction.

Enlighten me then.

I think if a company wants to offer it then it’s absolutely fine. Companies can make whatever policies they like. But. It shouldn’t be a legal right as lots of companies would very much struggle with people taking endless time off. That’s what most are disagreeing with. Making it a legal right wouldn’t work.

Thanks for your learned evaluation.

You're not wrong there. But not in the way you think you are.

There are quite a few companies now that have adopted 'pawternity' leave or pet bereavement as a policy.
Pawternity is for settling in new pets, but bereavement leave is offered by the likes of Google, Amazon, Co-op, Timpson. Lots of newer tech companies offer it too.
In our workplace it's at the managers discretion but we can offer up to a week of paid leave if needed.

Yes it’s upsetting but some employers only give the bare minimum for a death of a loved one very close relative you have no chance with pets.

I feel if you need more than the day of actual passing then it should be annual leave sick leave etc.

however I do feel that the day the pet is put to sleep (particularly in an emergency etc) should be given as a paid day off.

I’ve personally had an employer state I was unreasonable to take my cat (who was actively seizing) to the vet to be put to sleep as I was due in work and “anyone can take it”. I feel anyone should be allowed time with a pet to say goodbye and these kind of emergencies can’t be planned. People who aren’t necessarily ‘animal people’ need to have more compassion for those who are.

also as an aside, I really disagree with the comment about “who’s to say it’s a beloved old dog or a two year old cat” my cats are both 2 and are my whole entire world. If anything happened to him I’d be devastated and there is no way I wouldn’t be with them if it did.

We’ve had all sorts of animals over the years — dogs, horses, cats — all deeply loved, and we’ve sadly lost our fair share too. I’d never think to take a day off work when one passes. Of course, I’d be sad, but I’d still show up. I just don’t believe it’s a company’s responsibility to provide leave for that.