Pet Bereavement Leave in the Workplace: What to Consider

When the all too difficult day comes that your pet crosses the rainbow bridge, it can feel almost impossible to return to life as normal. There is no right or wrong way to grieve and it’s very human to feel like you need some time to step away from the hustle and bustle of life and come to terms with your pal’s passing. This can include needing to take some time off work in the early days after your pet’s death. 

At a time when your head already feels like it’s spinning, it may feel overwhelming to know how best to handle this conversation with your workplace. So, we’ve answered some of the top questions that may come to mind when you’re thinking about asking for leave at the time of pet loss. 

And if you’re a business owner or employer yourself, there’s some suggestions in here for things to consider to support your team through what can be one of the biggest losses of their lives. 

So, let’s get into it… 

Does my boss need to give me time off when my pet has passed away? 

While we know the loss of a pet can be a devastating loss for the whole family, in Australia and under the Fair Work Act 2009, your employer is not legally required to give you time off due to pet-related care. 

At the moment, personal carer’s leave and compassionate or bereavement is the right for employees to take leave in instances where they may be required to provide care or support immediate family members or members of a household. Under the current definition of the law, the legal definition of immediate family member or a member of the household does not include pets. 

Even though workplaces are not legally required to give you time off, we are starting to hear more about workplaces who are offering pet-related leave policies as an extra work perk. Particularly after our pets became even more ingrained in our lives when we stayed at home during COVID lockdowns, perks that recognise the special relationship we have with our furry friends have become more common. For example, in 2023, Commonwealth Bank announced that they were offering staff 2 days of paid leave if their pet was to sadly pass away. 

While this may not be something that is on offer at your workplace, it’s worthwhile knowing the details of leave policies at your work so that it makes conversations easier when the difficult time comes. 

I need to take time off work for the loss of a pet but my workplace doesn’t have a pet bereavement policy, what can I do? 

If your workplace does not offer a pet bereavement policy - don’t stress, there can be other ways of taking time off work. This could include taking annual leave, or if you do not have enough annual leave, you may be able to ask your employer to take unpaid leave. Or, if you feel like you are able to work in some capacity but may need some flexibility (for instance, to spend more time with your children as they adjust to the loss), you may also be able to speak to your employer about a temporary change to your hours or location of work. 

It may feel difficult to bring up the loss of a pet at work, particularly if the feelings of loss are very raw, so consider an appropriate member of your team who you feel comfortable speaking with about the situation and the support you may need. If you feel like you would like, or your workplace needs, extra documentation, we’d suggest speaking with your vet about what they can provide. 

Or you can look into options like those given by the likes of Mars Petcare. Mars Petcare is trying to make it easier for Australians to care for their sick pets with a new workplace policy initiative - Pet Care Leave. In collaboration with Australian vets, Mars Petcare has created a Pet Care Leave Certificate which can be provided by vets to pet owners, acting as evidence to receive a period of leave from work to care for an unwell pet. This could be helpful to give you time off in the lead up to the passing of your pet if they’re unwell, or at the time of their loss. 

I’m returning to work but I’m still feeling overwhelmed with the loss of my pet. How do I work through this? 

Depending on your workplaces’ leave policy, or your own financial situation, you may need to return to work sooner than you feel ready to. This may mean that you are still working through big emotions of loss while at work. This makes it even more important to make sure you have a strong support network around you - both in and outside of work, and you include little moments in your day to take time for yourself and what you need. This could look like taking a walk during the workday to clear your head, or taking the time to listen to a podcast on pet loss on your way to work to set you up for the day ahead. 

We’ve written a few blogs on ways to look after yourself during pet loss, which you can check out here and here. 

I’m a business owner and I’m wondering if it’s worthwhile introducing a pet bereavement leave policy. What should I think about when considering this? 

We know there will be so many factors at play for whether you are in a position to offer your employees pet bereavement leave. These can include the logistics and financial impact of additional leave policies to your business, particularly if you are a small business. This means that, as is the way with any leave policies, doing your own research and speaking with your financial and legal support to decide what is right for your business is so important. 

If you are in a position to offer pet bereavement leave, not only does this give your employee support at a time when they need it most, there can also be benefits for you as an employer. For example, by having a dedicated policy recognising the loss of a pet, it can encourage employee engagement, trust and retention, with staff being more willing to show up and go above and beyond for a business who understands and supports their team. Even if a team member does not currently own a pet, having the option on offer in the future, or for other staff members, can still be appreciated and reflect shared values. 

Above all else, showing your employees understanding and care in the face of pet loss is incredibly important. You can check out our recent blog post on ways to support those around you with the loss of a pet here. 

Trying to juggle normal life and everyday responsibilities at the same time as what can be one of the biggest losses can be incredibly difficult. Whether you’re the one navigating loss in the workplace, or you’re wondering how best to support someone through the loss, it is so valuable to be aware of how you can find support at work as this can help ease distress when the time comes.