The crying, the sleepless nights, the mess, the joy, the constant urge to take photos… having a new pet is a lot like having a new baby. So, should employees be getting paid time off for the occasion? Is “pawternity leave” just social-media hype, or do employers need to take note?
In the US, it’s becoming increasingly popular, with Mars Petcare (makers of Whiskas and Pedigree) offering 10 hours of paid leave for new pet parents, and marketing company Nina Hale offering ‘fur-ternity’ leave. Europeans are getting on board too; for example, Nordic pet food company Musti offers employees three days’ leave when they get a new pet. And the UK is living up to its reputation as a nation of animal lovers: a survey by Petplan showed that 5% of new pet owners had been offered paid leave.
If you’re rolling your eyes at the thought of offering yet more paid leave, consider three post-pandemic trends. 59% of households now have pets, according to the Pet Food Manufacturers' Association. Employees are reconsidering what’s important to them and looking for employers who value them as whole people with lives outside work. The jobs boom means it’s very much in your interests to give employees what they want.
With more companies offering hybrid and remote working, pet insurance, and the option to bring dogs into the office, pawternity leave could well be the next logical step.
Debate on the topic has been lively. Boxpark CEO Roger Wade took to LinkedIn and ran a poll after an employee with a new puppy asked for pawternity leave. A massive 34,000 people responded, with 39% in favour of allowing the puppy parent their leave. Although that still left 61% against, it shows that opinion is significantly divided.
Musti CEO David Rönnberg offered a compelling argument for pawternity leave when he explained why his company decided to offer it: “Adopting a pet is a significant decision and changes everyday life considerably. We want to support our employees during their first days with their new family member and ensure that they can enjoy those precious moments to the fullest.”
Most animals hate being left alone–even more so when they’re going through the trauma of adjusting to a new home–and young puppies and kittens can’t safely be left alone for a full workday. From an ethical point of view, offering paid leave to take care of them is unquestionably the right thing to do.
But if you can’t afford to base your financial decisions on the wellbeing of puppies and kittens, you’ll be relieved to know that it’s also sound business sense. Employee attraction and retention are becoming more important than ever as the talent drought intensifies and recession looms on the horizon. Offering pawternity leave is an easy way to give yourself the edge over the competition. Your employees will be happier and more engaged–and with a bit of luck, you might get to see the photos.