Time off work when your dog passes

[Arabiannights01]

I just think that I love my dog more than most humans and when it is her time to leave, I will be a distraught- mess for a while, I don’t think work will want a sobbing mess in front of customers. There should be a system where you get some kind of compassionate leave imo.

I worked for a large company for many years. In that time I think I had two dogs put to sleep. It was sudden as is often the case. I had the following day off as compassionate leave. I don't think they should write it into company policy as people could exploit it. A good employer would know a good employee and apply discretion to the rules, otherwise take it as holiday.

But they don’t 🤷‍♀️

It seems nice to let someone have a couple of days off for the death of a beloved pet @Arabiannights01 but I can't see it happening, ever. And people may take advantage. Some people have multiple pets.

My cousin used to have lots of pets (for some 25-30 years...) One time, she had 3 dogs, 5 cats, 3 rabbits, 2 gerbils, 3 rats, a snake, and a lizard. She was never without at least 12 pets....

So she would have had lots of time off if time was allowed off for the death of pets. Which pets should it be allowed for? All the ones my cousin had, plus goldfish, hamsters, mice, budgies, pigs, donkeys, goats, stick insects? (And anything that has ever had a pulse?!) Where would you draw the line?

How uncompassionate! I'd hate to work with you

I would say there is going to be zero chance of compassionate leave for pets being enacted via legislation. Some employers may offer a day or so as a perk. It’s only recently been the case that there’s a legal right to time off for parents who lose
a child so cats and dogs are well down the list

Work can be a good distraction but 2 days after my partner died would be way too soon for me personally. I wouldn't be able to concentrate and would need time off to grieve, but I guess everyone deals with things differently

I was new to my role when my childhood dog died. I emailed in to say I wouldn’t be in (therapist) as I was too upset. Everyone was very kind when I went back in the next day, not everyone has arsehole bosses!

I had 1 day. I had to take him to the vet on my own due to covid lockdown. My DP and 9yo were distraught. It didn't go as I wanted for him either (kept that to myself). I was in no fit state to work.

As a dog owner, I agree that there should be some provision. The problem is that there are lots of scenarios that aren't covered by any of the 'leave' options. Even our compassionate leave at work only covers immediate relatives for a really short period of time. Annual leave is an option but it's not really realistic to keep a few days free in case your dog dies. Maybe a few days of emergency leave that can be taken for any reason would be a good option. In my work though, people tend to be signed off sick if it's not covered elsewhere.

Compassionate leave perhaps if you at the vet. Annual leave for afterwards.

My company offers bereavement leave for the loss of a pet. I don’t think you’re being unreasonable. Pets are family. My company also offers 2 weeks wfh if you welcome a new pet into your home 🥰 reason I’ve been there 10 years - very caring company.

You make a good case for soft-in-the-head leave. I’m all for it.

Haven’t read the full thread but DS gets “life leave” for various things - weddings, graduation, bereavement etc. Two weeks a year I think. He was able to take a few days when we lost our dog last year.

Some employers have discretional leave that the managers can award as they see fit, and a pet dying would be a suitable use if somebody was really upset about it.

I've lost several pets over the years and I can't remember how much time I did or didn't take off after each one. In my current and previous workplaces I could probably turn up as usual, cry when somebody asked if I was okay, get a hug, pull myself together and get on with the job. I appreciate not everybody has that type of job. I can remember getting a call at work that my grandmother had died, my manager trying to send me home, but I didn't want to, I wanted to keep busy. When a pet dies you've got much less admin to do than when a relative dies - you sort out what to do with their body, you may need to make an insurance claim, and it's "just" grief to deal with after that, whereas there's a lot more to do when it's a person.

On general principals though OP, you really should get in the habit of keeping back a couple of days of annual leave for emergencies or changes of circumstances. It's not good to have none left unless the annual leave year is just about to tick over. A pet dying is only one of dozens of reasons.

This

It is awful when a dog dies I was distraught. A colleague came to work the day after and she was a mess and I felt so sorry for her. YANBU.

Companies can use their discretion in awarding annual leave. It depends on so many factors. It'd be a bit mad to suggest an actual specific policy covering every eventuality that people may be upset by.

I did have an employee who have 6 days off in as many months for various small pets, first 2 times they gave her a day of compassionate leave, next 3 times she was make to take annual leave and final time got her a written warning for being unreliable (receptionist so had to get temp each time) she quit less than a month later

Employer here; you can use AL allowance or take it as unpaid leave. You obviously have no idea how businesses run! What’s next, a day off because your child’s guinea pig died?

I’m retired now but when I worked as a department manager for a charity it was at my discretion to allow a day or two or to allow some rearrangement of shifts. I have adopted a number of older dogs and when their time came we would generally take a Friday off as leave and have the vet come to us, we were then OK for work the next Monday. We had one dog who was awkward (but much loved) all his life. He died one morning curled up in his bed as I was almost ready to leave for work, my manager rearranged all my work and gave me the day off to take him to the vets.

I’m retired now but when I worked as a department manager for a charity it was at my discretion to allow a day or two or to allow some rearrangement of shifts. I have adopted a number of older dogs and when their time came we would generally take a Friday off as leave and have the vet come to us, we were then OK for work the next Monday. We had one dog who was awkward (but much loved) all his life. He died one morning curled up in his bed as I was almost ready to leave for work, my manager rearranged all my work and gave me the day off to take him to the vets.

You need to keep a few days holiday just in case each year. If you don't need it take it easy few days of year.

Smokers regularly going out for smoke breaks that the rest of us did not have used to completely piss me off. It would definitely be time for me to get an imaginary dog if this ever became reality.

FWIW When my beloved cat was run over and I got a call one morning at work, not long after I had arrived. I asked if I could go immediately to my vet as my neighbour drove him in, which was very kind of her, but my cat died before I got to him. I went so upset I didn't go back in that day but I forced myself back the next day.

I guess at least with parents /grandparents most employees have a limited amount. Dogs and cats could be never ending.

i had to have my dog put down and didn’t have time to take his body home before I had to start a late shift at work, so had to leave his body in the car boot at work. Delivered a baby and was so away with the fairies I forgot to clamp the cord before cutting it!

When my gran died I’d been sat with her that morning, she died at midday and again I was on a late shift that afternoon and had to drive to work in a state of shock/upset.

Some jobs you can’t even take last minute annual leave as it would leave it so short staffed. Office job would be different I guess.