"This company still doesn't recognize cat maternity!" fumed Angela Martin, the feline fanatic in The Office. "I mean, when somebody has a kid, oh sure, take off a year."
Nobody in the real world appears to be suggesting that employees should be granted parental leave to raise kittens, but some people are arguing that pet owners should be allowed time off to mourn their departure.
"I think [pet bereavement leave] is a good idea because the role of pets in our society is changing," said Charlotte Reed, host of the radio show "The Pet Buzz" in New York City, according to the Society of Human Resource Management. "We now rely on technology for our needs — shopping, texting, working from home — and we don't really have to interact with anyone anymore. People are waiting longer to get married and have children. Pets have filled a physical and emotional void for many people, so when a pet passes, it can be very difficult."
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Pet bereavement policies are rare, but they do exist. According to SHRM, Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants in San Francisco offers employees three days off to grieve the loss of a furry companion. Trupanion, a pet insurance firm, affords employees one paid day off in such events.
The argument in favor of such policies is somewhat obvious. Many people are deeply attached to their pets emotionally, and therefore take a while to recuperate from the loss. Allowing them time off may be beneficial to them psychologically and will no doubt be appreciated.
The downside, of course, is that employees without pets may find the concept ludicrous and resent the time off afforded to their animal-loving colleagues.
The concept of pet bereavement leave highlights the struggle employers face to accommodate employees with different lifestyles and different types of families.
Just as businesses are increasingly shifting towards parental leave that is not gender specific, they may also consider offering employees a certain amount of paid leave to use as they see fit, whether to welcome a child to the world, or to say farewell to a beloved dog. In that context, maybe "cat maternity" can exist.
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