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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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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:

caffeinestream · 01/06/2017 19:02

Yes, I can imagine being given a day off or being sent home if you found out at work.

fuckwitery · 01/06/2017 19:02

I'd send someone home if it happened during the day then any extra time annual leave or unpaid.

ifonly4 · 01/06/2017 19:03

I had to have my cat pts recently, the appointment was an hour before I started work. As I wasn't working all day, to be honest I just phoned and told them I wouldn't be in and why, they were fine.

I have another job and I can't imagine getting away with not going in, so I think I'd have phoned in sick. I found myself having moments of being tearful there a couple of days after and struggled to put on a brave face at work, but somehow got through it.

Groupie123 · 01/06/2017 19:09

Depends on the health of the person at my workplace. Blind, deaf, and people who have support dogs can get leave for the deaths of their pets. As can people who aren't quite right from a MH perspective.

putdownyourphone · 01/06/2017 19:11

I took 2 days off when my cat died, albeit in horrendous circumstances - body left on my doorstep for me to find after being savaged by a staffie. It was awful and I can honestly say I have never felt so shocked and upset.

I didn't really care what work thought to be honest, I was in bits. I think if it had been different (PTS after illness for instance) i would have gone in.

Flowerdew2 · 01/06/2017 19:15

Yes I had 2 days off when my cat died, I was in bits and barely managed to pull myself together to go in on the third day. With my previous cat I had a week off paid, that was more of a shock and work was understanding. That was when I was an employee and I didn't take much time off, only sick 1 or 2 days a year and never left early.

With my Mum I stopped working for a few months as I am self employed. My DH had a week off when my Mum passed away, his work were very understanding. If you lose a family member it's important to take care of yourself and your employees.

LivingInMidnight · 01/06/2017 19:17

Last year my cat was clearly reaching the end, and my manager told me not to worry if I needed time off. I was already on leave when she was pts so it was OK work wise. Did overhear some lovely comments about how time off for a dog made sense but not "just a cat" but that was from colleagues rather than my manager.

LivingInMidnight · 01/06/2017 19:18

It would have been annual leave. Forgot that bit.

Babyroobs · 01/06/2017 19:18

A work colleague recently took 2 weeks off sick when her dog died !!

RainyDayBear · 01/06/2017 19:29

I used to know someone who had a day off when her cat died. She ran training events then, and the event - which people had travelled to - was cancelled at short notice. She was ever so surprised when her manager disciplined her!!

Ameliablue · 01/06/2017 19:34

Not compassionate leave but annual leave would be a reasonable request.

Frankie89 · 01/06/2017 19:35

Yes I would get it and I would grant it.

gamerwidow · 01/06/2017 19:40

I would allow my staff to take short notice annual leave for a dead pet but they wouldn't get bereavement leave. Even for the death of a close relative you'd only get a few days.

WiddlinDiddling · 01/06/2017 19:43

Good job I am self employed...

I was fine, useful, productive etc when my mum died - I organised family coming down, most of the funeral, wake etc... whilst my Dad and sister flapped around like useless twats.

When my DOG died...... my world fell apart, I had my head up my arse for a MONTH and was no use to anyone at all.

sooperdooper · 01/06/2017 19:46

I think I'd be allowed to work from home but not take actual bereavement leave

zeezeek · 01/06/2017 19:59

My mother died a few months ago and I took one day off for the funeral (and that was really only because I had to travel 200 miles and the next day was a Sat).

If any of my three current dogs died I would be devastated. As would my children. I would take time off to be with them and to handle my own grief. Sometimes, for children, the death of a pet is the first encounter that they have with a creature that they love and with whom they have grown up dying and sometimes they need you to be there for them a little bit more than you would normally.

Violetcharlotte · 01/06/2017 20:01

To take time off as annual leave because a pet died would be absolutely fine and totally normal at my work.

I know it's hard for none animal people to understand, but they really are part of the family. My dog was v ill last year and I was a mess.

StarryCorpulentCunt · 01/06/2017 20:01

I'd just call in sick tbh.

BeanSprout79 · 01/06/2017 20:04

You would at my place of work. They are very good like that.

TrueColors · 01/06/2017 20:51

I have no idea, probably not. I wouldn't judge anyone for needing time off though.

Catch583 · 01/06/2017 21:12

Most jobs are not more vital than showing decency and compassion.
It does not wreck a child's education to miss a week of school nor will your boss go out of business if a distraught worker has a day off to cope with shock and grief.
Work should not be more important than treating the workers well. Ever. That includes time off if they're crying too much to see.

bobbybaby2017 · 01/06/2017 21:13

My friend had a work colleague who took two weeks annual leave after their dog died and then bought the ashes to work in their bag afterwards. A little excessive!

I'd understand this if they were a service dog as that could completely change your life but this wasn't the case.

SuperBeagle · 01/06/2017 21:18

You would get annual leave at my work.

Fortunately my work is understanding about these things, though we haven't had many instances of it. Some people cope far worse with the death of a pet than others (I am one of them, but haven't experienced it while I've been in this role).

JustDanceAddict · 01/06/2017 21:20

Probably a day for a dog. I was very upset when our cat got run over and died. It was on a Sat so I had a bit of recovery time thankfully.
Really depends on circumstances too - whether it's sudden or an old dog who's been ill for a while, etc.

harderandharder2breathe · 01/06/2017 21:21

The company I work for is generally pretty good. They supported me through long term sickness last year (MH issues nothing to do with work but impacting my ability to do my job). They supported my friend through long term sick and a very prolonged phased return. I've seen them support colleagues in difficult circumstances including losing a parent or having a very premature baby.

But I can't imagine them being impressed at anyone who took more than a day or two for a dead pet. And that would be annual leave if there was capacity and they had it left to take or unpaid if not. I've worked there over ten years and never heard anyone mention it tbh.

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