Losing a pet — whether a cat, dog, or any number of rodents — is tragic and devastating, something that can take you off your feet for days if not weeks. But while losing a human family member often allows a person the opportunity to take a few days off for bereavement, not all companies allow pet owners to take some time off when their beloved companion animal dies. Should they?
According to CBS, more and more employers are letting their workers take some time off when it comes to mourning pets who have lost their lives. While some companies offer only a day, others allow for up to three paid days off when a pet has passed on. And according to a pet loss counselor, taking that time off is incredibly important, especially considering that many pet owners who were recently surveyed about losing a companion animal agreed that they grieved the loss for at least six months. And while no employer’s going to grant that much time off, even having a day to mourn can be an important part of the healing process.
Software company VM Ware and Maxwell Health gives employees flexible days off. Kimpton Hotels and Restaurants allows managers to grant up to three days away from work, and pet insurance company Trupanion gives employees one paid pet bereavement day.
“We allow people to actually do that grieving process and just, just be able to heal. I think you need closure when you lose a pet, and it’s important to have the time to do that,” Dani Kahn, Trupanion said.
While information we have about pet loss suggests that grieving can last a long time — there are even support groups for people who have recently lost a lifelong companion — the main question isn’t whether companies should offer bereavement days for a pet that’s passed on but what kinds of pets should be covered under this type of policy. A dog an employee has lived with for 13 years is a no-brainer, but what about a betta fish (life expectancy: 2-4 years), a guinea pig (life expectancy 4-8 years), or a ferret ( life expectancy: 7-10 years)? While some may consider this a slippery slope (after all, someone could try to take a day off every time they flushed a goldfish they won at the carnival down the toilet), being able to take some time off to say goodbye to a beloved pet could not only help an employee with an important step in the healing process but raise both morale and loyalty to a company that’s clearly compassionate.
(Via CBS)
