Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Flip

1 2 3 4

Original poster

Would you be allowed time off work if your dog died?

91 replies

MasuMara · 01/06/2017 18:17

Maybe I'm being harsh, as I know it's a family member and not a pet.

But to have time off work ... I'm not so sure I'm that understanding.

OP posts:

OnionKnight · 01/06/2017 18:29

We could get short notice annual leave in my team.

StaplesCorner · 01/06/2017 18:29

Asmoto I have known the death of a pet retrigger grief for the loss of a human family member, for instance - yes very much what happened to me too - I admire your insight TBH.

happypoobum · 01/06/2017 18:30

Of course! I have given staff members time off (including teachers) when their dog or cat has died. They were in no fit state to work/teach.

If you are unfit to work then you are entitled to time off.

Whether that time off would be paid or not would depend on your employers policies. In my case I gave it off paid.

Splodgeinc · 01/06/2017 18:30

Hah where I work you are expected to come in if your mother died so definitely not for a pet. Not hyperbole - a colleague had to work the night shift even though his daughter was in ITU! (Doctor so was threatened with report to GMC if he called in sick)

Coddiwomple · 01/06/2017 18:30

If possible, annual leave, that's what it's for, but it depends on the job. Sometimes you do need the staff!
Most bosses are not trying to be cruel for the sake of it, but they have a business to run. Between the maternity leave, kids various sick days, family issues, unwell elderly parents, where does it stop?

I would never refuse unpaid leave to be mean, but if there are already people on holidays, on sick leave, what can you do?

Floralnomad · 01/06/2017 18:31

I know someone who had 6 months off sick when her horse died unexpectedly , I did think that was a bit extreme .

Coddiwomple · 01/06/2017 18:32

good lord, I am sure someone will manage to be signed off for depression if they lose their gold fish, but there's always someone who knows how to use the system

Asmoto · 01/06/2017 18:32

Staples It happened to my mum - a family pet died about six months after her mum died, and emotions she had probably been bottling up for all that time came flooding out and she was distraught.

Ecureuil · 01/06/2017 18:36

No, and I wouldn't ask.

nebulae · 01/06/2017 18:40

My beloved dog has an inoperable tumour so I'm going to lose him at some point in the next few weeks. It's likely I'll need to take a day or so off, depending on the timing. I imagine it will be classes as emergency hols, so will come out of my annual leave. I wouldn't expect it to be otherwise.

topcat2014 · 01/06/2017 18:41

This would be one of the things annual leave is for.

Doglikeafox · 01/06/2017 18:41

I'm a childminder and I personally would take a day off if my dog died. I would be totally devastated and my job isn't one you can half-ass or risk not doing effectively.
Having said that, I am yet to take a single unplanned day off in the 18 months I've been doing this so I would expect the children's parents to understand.

MrsPresley · 01/06/2017 18:46

When my dog died, I was going on a weeks annual leave anyway, so thought I would be fine when I went back.

I didn't allow for colleagues who knew my dog was nearing the end of his life, asking me about him. I was in bits, I had him almost 14 years, longer than I'd had 2 of my children. I didn't even realise myself how grief stricken I'd be. I then took another day and a half, the half day my manager allowed off paid (she sent me home) and a days annual leave.

One if my colleagues, when his mother died, came into work for a couple of hours, went to her funeral, then came back to work. He said he only went because he hated her and wanted to make sure she was dead

Judydreamsofhorses · 01/06/2017 18:49

Not in my place, and the compassionate leave policy only applies to the death of a parent, spouse/partner, or child, no other family members.

BlueKarou · 01/06/2017 18:51

I was sent home from work the day my dog was due to be pts. I had a kind, sympathetic manager who had dogs herself and knew that whilst I wouldn't have asked for it, it was what I needed and wanted.

If it happened again then I would probably book the day off. Probably not the day after, but the day itself.

user1492115574 · 01/06/2017 18:52

I know of a person who had three weeks off when their pig died 😱🙈

Daydream007 · 01/06/2017 18:52

If the person was distraught and in bits then yes because they wouldn't be very productive in the workplace anyway whilst in tears! A day or 2 is acceptable if they are so upset they are unfit to work.

MissionItsPossible · 01/06/2017 18:52

My work would and if I had a dog that I had for a long time and he was dying whilst I was at work I wouldn't hesitate to leave. In fact one of my old work colleagues had this happen and they let him go early to say goodbye and this was when they were much more stricter about timekeeping and annual leave. Far more relaxed now and able to call in on the morning and book a days leave (paid out of annual leave or unpaid if all time off has been used)

ForalltheSaints · 01/06/2017 18:53

I think it would be have to be part of annual holiday allowance.

UserShmuser · 01/06/2017 18:54

My first week as a manager I had a staff member call in and said she couldn't come in because her dog had been vomiting over night. Only the dog had quite a popular boy's name and me being new didn't know this woman too well, so the conversation went something like

Staff member- "Charlie was sick a couple of times last night so I'm not going to be able to make it in today."

Me - "Oh no, poor thing. Thanks for letting me know, hope he feels better soon. Give me a ring later so I know if you'll be in tomorrow."

I later mentioned to someone that she wouldn't be in because her son was sick only to be met with a strange look and told that she didn't have children. When I asked who "Charlie" was they laughed and told me he was the dog.

I understand dogs can be part of the family but found this a bit ridiculous. She also must have realised I had no idea what her dogs name was so why she didn't just say "Charlie, my dog" I'll never know!

MissionItsPossible · 01/06/2017 18:54

I know of a person who had three weeks off when their pig died

Ok I'm sorry but that's just ridiculous! Did they come back with a tan perchance?

Craigie · 01/06/2017 18:58

No.

m0therofdragons · 01/06/2017 18:59

I took a half day when my cat died (she was at the vets and they called to say I had 30 minutes to get there then they would put her to sleep as she was fitting. I was allowed to go and got lots of tea and sympathy the next day. Manager was a cat lady with no dc (like me at the time) and I worked well over my contracted hours. A colleague's step dad died a week later (been her dad since age 2 and walked her down the aisle when she married) and same manager reluctantly gave her a day for the funeral and made her take the day he died as annual leave! Totally bonkers. I felt so guilty for getting much more sympathy over my cat!

AnneElliott · 01/06/2017 18:59

Our place would give you annual leave or flexi, but you wouldn't get the special leave that you get for a human bereavement.

Westray · 01/06/2017 19:00

No way.

I took two days off when my Dad died.

Flip

1 2 3 4