UK dog owners are calling for a workplace revolution by demanding the same rights as parents when getting time off work, a new study by Burns Pet Nutrition can reveal.
More than half (56%) of dog owners feel they should not have to book a days holiday in order to take their pet to the vet while four in 10 (40%) want time-off to care for a poorly pooch at home.
One in 10 (15%) owners want ‘pet-ernity leave’ when their pooch has a litter and nearly the same number (12%) say they should be able to arrive late or leave work early to pick up or drop-off at doggy day care.
More than half (54%) are calling for compassionate leave to give them adequate time to grieve for a dearly departed dog.
Under UK law, Brits can take a ‘reasonable amount of time off to deal with an emergency’ like caring for a sick child or compassionate leave in the event of a death in the family.
The length of leave, whether an employee will be paid and for how long depends on the worker’s contract and discussions with their boss.
Now, dog owners are demanding those same rights to look after their four-legged friends – as it’s revealed three quarters (74%) view their pooch as one of their children.
Burns Pet Nutrition Manager Laura Crotch Harvey said: “Dogs bring so much happiness and joy to a household, they really are part of the family.
“So, when a dog is sick it can an incredibly worrying time for owners, and when the worst happens and that friendly face is no more, it can truly be devastating. That’s why we back calls from dog owners hoping for help when it comes to getting time off work.”
