NEED TO KNOW
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A person shared on a community forum that they believe that dog owners should be given compassionate time off from work if their pet dies
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The dog owner argued that such a loss is just as difficult to recover from as that of a relative or friend
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“I’d be a distraught mess for a while,” they wrote
A dog owner believes they should be offered compassionate leave from work in the event of their pet’s death.
In an ‘Am I Being Unreasonable?’ thread on the community forum Mumsnet, a person wrote that all dog owners should be entitled to time off work when their dog dies to recover from the loss.
“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,” the person wrote.
They urged that “there should be a system in place” in workplaces for dog owners that allows them to have “some form of compassionate leave” following a pet’s death.
“I don’t think work will want a sobbing mess in front of customers,” the person added.
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Sad person (stock image)
Some readers in the comments section agreed that dog owners should be afforded time off to grieve their pet.
“We did offer a couple of paid days if an employee requested time off,” an employer and dog owner said. “Often it can be traumatic, and only fellow dog owners really get it.”
“I wouldn’t expect time off,” a second user said. “But I’ve been lucky enough to work for caring employers who understood and offered me a couple of days to find an even keel again.”
Another reader suggested that the person should take annual or sick leave if the death was “impacting your mental health sufficiently that you can’t work.”
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Woman holding a dog (stock image)
Other readers believed that introducing such a benefit in the workplace wouldn’t be a good idea.
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“The problem is, where do you draw the line? A much-loved elderly dog? A 2-year-old cat? A 6-month-old hamster … a fish?” one person wrote.
“I would imagine a lot of companies could use their discretion if an employee is genuinely struggling over the death of a much-loved pet,” they continued. “But no, I don’t think it should ever be written into policy as anyone could start making up endless pets to get time off.”
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