U.K. Companies Are Beginning to Offer Time Off for Employees When Their Dog Gets Sick

sick pug with bandaged paw

Get paid time off for a sick pet? Pawternity leave is great!

A new benefit is joining maternity and paternity leave, and it has to do with kids of the four legged variety. According to pet insurance provider, Petplan, nearly one in 20 new pet owners in the United Kingdom have been offered time off to care for furry family members. Dubbed pawternity leave, this perk ranges from a few hours to up to three weeks of paid time off.

Insurance company Mars Petcare was one of the first companies to institute a formal policy, which allows employees 10 hours of paid leave when adding a new pet to the family. This allows people to take their pups to a training class or veterinary appointment, or just spend quality time creating a bond.

We don't have mandatory paid maternity or paternity leave in the United States, so it may be harder for pawternity leave to catch on here.

It's incredibly stressful to have a sick dog at home. Especially when you can't be there for them at all times because of work. With pawternity leave, pet owners can focus on getting their dogs back to their healthy selves without worrying about work responsibilities.

For more on pawternity leave, visit The Bark.



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