My manager was off today because her dog died on Saturday morning.

[IwishIwasacaterpillar]

Am I being an arsehole to think this is a bit ridiculous?

It seems like it sets a precedent. I have three cats, will I get a day off each time one of them dies ?

I agree , and also you don't know what else is going on in her life ,the loss of her dog may have just pushed her over the edge .
Show some compassion it is a bereavement - look up the meaning of bereavement.

I’ve just been reminded of when I went to a dinner party a few years ago and one of the guests was sat at the table in tears because her budgie had been put to sleep a few weeks before 😂

YABU, dying on Saturday might be Saturday night. On Sunday she probably had to contact the pet crematorium, leave her dog there and was devastated. I dont think it's unreasonable to miss a day off work (presume AL anyway) to pull yourself together from something thats basically just happened. I'd rather that than dealing with a sobbing manager (not particularly dignified is it).

If OP was asking if her colleague was BU for having 1 day off due to an episode of extremely bad mental health that started Saturday - you'd all be calling her an unsympathetic monster for even asking.

Yes you’re being an arsehole.

Not rightly so. My boss gave me the day off when my dog died. Bit more compassion in the world wouldn’t be a bad thing why are you angling for less.

Absolutely. For a few moments I felt less alone with my loss when she shared her loss with me. it wasn't some weird competition

I don't have any pets but I've given people time off work for the loss of a dog before. Some people are devastated by the death of a pet and regard it as they would regard the loss of a family member. As long as they're not someone who regularly takes the piss, why wouldn't I acknowledge their loss?

Employees are human and they have lives and messy stuff like emotions. If we want robots instead of people, we should invest in robots.

A little humanity and compassion goes a long way in my experience

I would probably not do this, but I don’t think it’s ridiculous at all. Pets are friends, often people will have had their pet for 10 years or more when it dies. The death of a pet is very sad and many people are absolutely desolate when it happens. You could reframe your thinking and view it as a “mental health day” for your colleague.

This isn’t an organisation that I would want to work for. Can’t imagine staff feel very valued

I have three cats, will I get a day off each time one of them dies ?

Why are you asking us?

We don't employ you...

If it had no effect on you you are being a MASSIVE arsehole, to answer your question. Catch yourself on.

Just because she is the manager it doesn’t make her any less human does it. I’m glad your manager shows that she is human and has emotions, we need more of that in businesses.

Maybe she took the day to avoid inconsiderate people.

Will you be taking a year off to claw back the maternity leave others had?

I’m sure she would have preferred not to have a dead dog and to have been at work Ffs 🙄

Losing a pet is of course upsetting but no, you don't take a day off.

Employees are human and they have lives and messy stuff like emotions. If we want robots instead of people, we should invest in robots.

This will probably happen, tbh.

You say that but I genuinely cried more over losing my dog than my mum. I didn’t take time off for either dying but I was more upset over the dog. Not everyone is the same as you.

My beautiful girl cat died in 2022, aged 20. I messaged my immediate supervisor, just to say my cat has passed, and if I appear subdued, this is the reason why. She passed on the Monday night, and I went into work on the Tuesday. I didn't take the day off. Yes, I was absolutely distraught, I adored her. However, having some normality, and something else to focus on, I found helped. Everyone is different, and I wouldn't judge anyone if they did need a day to calm their emotions.

I don't know. I think there is an argument that managers should model resilience for their team.

My works’s compassionate leave policy specifically incudes pets 🤷🏻‍♀️

Nope. Dogs are likeable.

Nobody would bat an eyelash at me taking time off for a genetically close relative, even if the only reason I were doing it was to make sure that they were actually dead and not pissing around with stupid games.

YABU I'm afraid (I mean this kindly and not as a criticism).

They are like family members for a lot of people. She's obvious devastated poor woman. I couldn't begrudge anyone time off in this instance.
When my horse died suddenly I was a wreck for a long time. Still hurts now and she's been gone years.
Different people deal with these things in ways that are unique to them.

I’ll be off when my dog dies 100 percent. It may be ridiculous to you but you and her are two very different people who cope with things differently. People can be so hard ffs give her a break.

Everyone deals with grief differently.

I'm very accepting of death, life experience and that we all must die, especially when it comes to pets, but, some people really struggle and I dont judge them for that.