Adecco’s Post

In today’s evolving workplace, offering comprehensive and compassionate benefits is crucial to employee well-being and retention. Employer’s must understand that their team members' lives extend beyond their work, encompassing family—including pets that are often considered family. In consideration of diverse and supportive benefits, here are some ideas for consideration: 1. Bereavement Leave for Household Pets and Service Animals: Losing a pet or service animal can be as heartbreaking as losing a human family member. Offering bereavement leave acknowledges this grief and gives employees the time they need to process their loss. 2. Hospice Leave for Family Members: Recognize the emotional and physical demands when a loved one is in hospice care. Providing dedicated leave for this critical time ensures employees can be fully present for their family without the added stress of work obligations. 3. Conversion of Sick Time to Pet Sick Time: Pets are family too, and vet visits are a necessary part of pet ownership. Allowing employees to convert sick time to care for their pets reinforces a commitment to their overall well-being. While these benefits enhance employee support, it’s important to implement measures to prevent potential abuse and ensure fairness. Here’s how employers can achieve this: • Clear Policy Guidelines: Define eligibility, appropriate use, and documentation requirements for each benefit to ensure transparency and understanding among employees. • Verification Processes: For pet bereavement and pet sick time, consider requiring a veterinarian's note. For hospice leave, a medical certificate can be requested. • Manager Training: Equip managers with the tools and knowledge to handle these sensitive requests empathetically and consistently. • Periodic Reviews: Regularly review the use of these benefits to identify any patterns of misuse and adjust policies as needed. By introducing compassionate benefits, employers not only support their employees through life’s challenges but also foster a culture of care and respect. Benefits like those listed above help employees feel valued and supported in all aspects of their lives. #HumanResources #EmployeeBenefits #WorkplaceWellbeing #CompassionatePolicies #HRInnovation #EmployeeSupport

Having recently lost a pet, I was very interested when I came across https://lnkd.in/gFUcaPxV a news items where 'Half of pet owners say their animal is a member of the family — equal to humans. Google, Starbucks, United Airlines and Walmart have embraced a so-called "pet-conscious workplace."" Discussions around pet bereavement leave are gaining traction with a change in labour demographics. While current laws don't mandate leave for the loss of a pet, progressive companies are beginning to recognize the significant emotional toll it can take, similar to losing a human family member https://lnkd.in/gy_2v7kp https://lnkd.in/gD9YpXVE Surveys indicate that for many, the grief experienced after losing a pet mirrors that of losing a relative, highlighting the need for supportive workplace policies (https://lnkd.in/gtASctWi). Businesses that have adopted pet bereavement policies report enhanced workplace morale and employee well-being, suggesting that these policies can also boost loyalty and productivity (https://lnkd.in/gkEXjwU6). This evolving workplace consideration supports employee mental health and builds a compassionate organizational culture. It's time for more companies to consider how inclusive their bereavement policies are and whether they reflect the realities of modern employee needs. I wonder how these policies will impact companies that, at the same time, are negotiating organized labour https://lnkd.in/gnBjK6mH #HR #EmployeeWellbeing #MentalHealth #PetBereavement #WorkplaceCulture

Compassionate Policy, Productive Workforce: The Case for Pet Bereavement Leave in the Workplace In today's fast-paced and demanding work environments, companies are constantly seeking ways to support the well-being and morale of their employees. While traditional benefits such as health insurance and vacation days are standard offerings, there's a growing recognition of the importance of addressing the emotional needs of employees, particularly during times of personal loss. One area that is gaining attention is the implementation of pet bereavement leave policies, acknowledging the profound impact that the loss of a beloved pet can have on an individual's mental and emotional health. In this blog post, we'll explore why it's in a company's best interest to offer pet bereavement leave and how such policies contribute to a more compassionate and productive workplace culture. For more information on this topic please go to: https://lnkd.in/gax4t3VA

When employers recognized the importance of pet bereavement time off , they de-stigmatize the grieving process and can greatly support employees coping with the loss of a beloved pet. Since pets often hold significant emotional importance akin to family members, acknowledging this grief with specific time off can help employees process their loss, access mental health support, if needed, and return to work more focused and engaged. Moreover, such a policy can enhance company culture by showing empathy and support for employees' overall well-being, which can lead to increased loyalty and job satisfaction. Offering structured support during such times, perhaps through employee assistance programs that include grief counseling and virtual support groups, can further demonstrate an employer's commitment to their staff's mental health. https://lnkd.in/gQPXrkig

🐾 This week I read an article written by Erika Sinner titled "The ‘culture-changing’ effect of pet bereavement leave." This insightful piece delves into the transformative impact of offering pet bereavement benefits in the workplace.   In the article she notes that nearly 70% of U.S. households include a beloved pet. 🐶🐱 For most of us, our pets are cherished members of our families and coping with their loss can be incredibly difficult. For this reason, her call to action was to bring more empathy into the workplace by recognizing the shared human experiences that unite us all. Inspired by Sinner's article and knowing that a significant portion of our workforce are probably pet owners, I'm eager to explore how we can incorporate similar initiatives to support our employees during difficult times of pet loss.   🤔 I am curious to know if anyone has implemented such policies in their organization, or have worked at an organization with such benefits? If so, what did the benefit look like and how impactful was it? If not, is anyone considering implementing pet bereavement benefits? From an employee’s perspective, would a benefit like this resonate with you; why or why not? Drop your thoughts in the comments!   #PetBereavement #EmployeeWellbeing #EmployeeBenefits #HRCommunity #WorkplaceCulture

Would you give someone the day off if their goldfish died?   I suspect the answer is a resounding ‘NO!’ However, if that goldfish was their only companion, and looking after it gave them meaning and purpose, and the goldfish had died unexpectedly (don’t they always), how would you then feel? And if that person was struggling and needed one day to get themselves together and then they would be back to full productivity tomorrow, would you still say ‘NO!’? I have used an extreme example, perhaps to get your attention, but I know someone so upset when their fish died that they wished they could have taken a compassionate leave day. My research at the University of Suffolk found that it is the closeness of the bond that matters, not the individual. No demarcation says some pets (cats and dogs) are ‘mournable’ and others are not (small furries and fish). Your response to my opening question may depend on how you view the human-animal bond. If you see pets as replaceable and there to serve a purpose (such as protection) you could answer very differently to the humanistic style of pet owner who attaches deeply, regardless of species. But in the world of work, we must always balance day-to-day productivity and profit with support and value for our employees. It’s not easy. One of the first changes I made to our Bereavement/Compassionate Leave policy at Magnus Group was to insert ‘but still of someone important to you’. Off the top of my head, I can think of three employees who took paid compassionate leave for their pet (of just one day, although they could have had up to three) and not only came back to work productive but also appreciative that we had done the right thing by them. Was I criticised for being too kind? Of course. But I believe if we treat people well, they are likely to stay with us, and I also believe sometimes there is no point in forcing someone to work when they are not going to be working well or, in some cases, safely. And of course, some people prefer to work through their traumas and ‘stay busy’. It is about knowing our employees well enough to have a fair idea of what they need. And why did I choose this topic? When Dad died, I was told I could ‘take as much time as I needed’ but when my 18-year-old dog died there was no such response. Who was to say I was closer to my dad than my dog? As it turns out, I was close to both 😊

To be honest, I was surprised to come across a book which discusses HR’s role in helping employees grieve the loss of a pet... "Nearly all pet owners (97%) say their furry companions are family, according to the Pew Research Center. As such, the grief associated with losing them can be devastating. And this can affect how employees show up to work, according to Erika Sinner, founder and CEO of marketing agency Directorie, and author of Pets Are Family." The book outlines several pieces of advise for companies: "It has to start from the top down, in terms of really pushing for an empathy-driven culture…then compassion is having compassionate policies, like pet bereavement…" "Compassionate policies, like pet bereavement leave, show your employee…we recognize your family structure includes your furry family members. You’re [not] leaving it up to chance that your frontline managers aren’t going to know what to do or what to say. Or your employees are going to feel like they have to go back to work the next day, or maybe they can’t talk about it, and they’re going to be miserable." Also, not comparing grief…whether it is the loss of a human or a pet - people grieve and it affects their work... What do you think about it?

It’s never just a dog … cat, bird, or turtle 🐶❤️ The loss of any pet is traumatic and deserves to be treated with care by employers. One expert on the topic of pet bereavement offers advice for HR professionals seeking to learn how to best help their grieving employees.  How would you like to see pet bereavement supported?

It’s never just a dog … cat, bird, or turtle 🐶❤️ The loss of any pet is traumatic and deserves to be treated with care by employers. One expert on the topic of pet bereavement offers advice for HR professionals seeking to learn how to best help their grieving employees.  How would you like to see pet bereavement supported?

It’s never just a dog … cat, bird, or turtle 🐶❤️ The loss of any pet is traumatic and deserves to be treated with care by employers. One expert on the topic of pet bereavement offers advice for HR professionals seeking to learn how to best help their grieving employees.  How would you like to see pet bereavement supported?