Our pets have become a part of our families, and the death of a pet can lead to such grief that some employers offer pet-bereavement leave.
The Wall Street Journal's Sue Shellenbarger says some employers do. Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants offer a three-day pet-bereavement leave. The company supports the special relationship humans have with their pets by welcoming pets at its hotels and providing pet insurance and bereavement leave for its 7,800 employees.
Some units of Mars, Inc., the big candy and pet-food maker, offer one or more days off, flexible hours, or freedom to work from home after a pet's death. Others grant time off under paid-time-off or sick leave policies.
It's best to wait at least a month before bringing home a new pet, according to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. About 1 in 3 people feels grief and sadness for a least six months after the death of a beloved pet.
