Dog Owner Argues Workplaces Should Give Employees Compassionate Time Off If Their Pet Dies

A dog owner has sparked debate online after suggesting that employees should be granted compassionate leave when a beloved pet dies.

Posting in an “Am I Being Unreasonable?” thread on the community forum Mumsnet, the user argued that dog owners ought to be allowed time away from work to process their grief when their pet passes away.

“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,” they wrote, adding that “there should be a system in place” so workplaces can offer “some form of compassionate leave” after a pet’s death. “I don’t think work will want a sobbing mess in front of customers,” they added.

Several commenters agreed that losing a pet can be devastating and that some time off can make a real difference.

“We did offer a couple of paid days if an employee requested time off,” one employer, who is also a dog owner, shared. “Often it can be traumatic, and only fellow dog owners really get it.”

Another person said they wouldn’t necessarily expect formal leave, but appreciated when employers showed understanding. “I wouldn’t expect time off,” they wrote. “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.”

Others suggested existing types of time off could be used if the loss became overwhelming. One commenter recommended taking annual or sick leave if the death was “impacting your mental health sufficiently that you can’t work.”

Not everyone supported the idea of formally writing pet bereavement into company policy. Some argued it would be difficult to define clear boundaries.

“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 user asked.

They added that discretion might be the best approach. “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. 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.”