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Cherskiy

Joined: 08 Dec 2006 Posts: 3701 Location: near Amble, Northumberland
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Posted: Tue Jan 30, 2007 6:57 am Post subject: Compassionate Sick Leave for Pet Owners |
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An item on 'Breakfast' this morning suggested some companies are considering allowing employees time off to look after ill pets, and even compassionate leave if they die. _________________ Author: “To the Ends of the Earth: A Snapshot of Aviation in North-Eastern Siberia, Summer 1992”
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Toggy tea slurper Guest
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Posted: Tue Jan 30, 2007 8:06 am Post subject: |
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I would like to see that brought in. |
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iwarburton
Joined: 08 Dec 2006 Posts: 2133 Location: Northumberland
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Posted: Tue Jan 30, 2007 1:32 pm Post subject: |
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An item on 'Breakfast' this morning suggested some companies are considering allowing employees time off to look after ill pets, and even compassionate leave if they die.
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I'm not against this in principle but can you imagine the potential for it to be abused?
Ian. |
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MIKERAPHONE
Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 301 Location: Bury..home of the World famous Black Pudding!!
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Posted: Tue Jan 30, 2007 3:31 pm Post subject: |
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The death charter :
Hamster....one week off
Cat/Dog....two weeks off
Horse...One month off
Goldfish...Six Months on full pay.
Sounds very compassionate to me.  _________________ The Voice of reason in a MAD MAD world |
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Cherskiy

Joined: 08 Dec 2006 Posts: 3701 Location: near Amble, Northumberland
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Posted: Tue Jan 30, 2007 4:09 pm Post subject: |
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One of my colleagues said he was going to call into the pet shop on the way home and ask if they had any gerbils that were on their last legs - he's used up his annual leave allocation and can't wait until March....  _________________ Author: “To the Ends of the Earth: A Snapshot of Aviation in North-Eastern Siberia, Summer 1992”
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Natasha Little Miss Lovely Smile

Joined: 09 Dec 2006 Posts: 790
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Posted: Tue Jan 30, 2007 8:17 pm Post subject: |
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Employee: My parrot is dead.
Gaffer: No no he's not dead, he's restin. Get your butt in NOW _________________ Eternal nothingness is fine if you happen to be dressed for it. |
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Julia
Joined: 10 Jan 2007 Posts: 556 Location: a hillside desolate
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Posted: Tue Jan 30, 2007 11:23 pm Post subject: |
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Toggy tea slurper wrote: | I would like to see that brought in. |
so would I _________________ I was trying to daydream, but my mind kept wandering. |
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Cherskiy

Joined: 08 Dec 2006 Posts: 3701 Location: near Amble, Northumberland
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Posted: Wed Jan 31, 2007 12:41 pm Post subject: |
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Julia wrote: | Toggy tea slurper wrote: | I would like to see that brought in. |
so would I |
Ah, but where do you draw the line, Julia? Which pets would you allow leave for, and which ones wouldn't you? Would a goldfish be classed the same as a dog, for instance? Or a gerbil?
Some might say taking time off to look after a sick child is more important, yet some companies don't even allow their employees sick or compassionate leave for that reason, never mind looking after a sick pet.
Would you have to take your pet to the vets and then produce a bill from them to prove your animal had been sick, if the illness goes on for longer than a normal self-certification period? Would you expect Statutory Sick Pay or would you accept a cut in pay for absence, as many employers (my own included) pay you whether you are absent or not.
Quite frankly, I can't see many businesses taking this onboard (especially smaller ones, which can be cripped financially by normal human absence), unless they're really desperate to hang onto key staff. _________________ Author: “To the Ends of the Earth: A Snapshot of Aviation in North-Eastern Siberia, Summer 1992”
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Chatelaine

Joined: 22 Jan 2007 Posts: 66 Location: Staffordshire
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Posted: Wed Jan 31, 2007 5:58 pm Post subject: |
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I had to fight tooth and nail for compassionate leave when my aunt died. Because she wasn't classed as 'immediate family' (even though I tried to explain that she'd brought me up since the age of 3 and my only living relative, she was more like my mother)
So I'll be damned if I can agree with someone taking time off because the the rabbit has a cold. |
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mark occomore
Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 9955 Location: UK
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Posted: Wed Jan 31, 2007 7:20 pm Post subject: Re: Compassionate Sick Leave for Pet Owners |
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Cherskiy wrote: | An item on 'Breakfast' this morning suggested some companies are considering allowing employees time off to look after ill pets, and even compassionate leave if they die. |
Was this whilst Terry was eating bacon for breakfast? He will be off for the next week now.  |
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SantaFefan

Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 11258 Location: top of the cliffs in Norfolk
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Posted: Thu Feb 01, 2007 8:21 pm Post subject: |
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I can only speak using dogs as an example.
My dogs mean everything to me and in the past, I've been devastated when one has died.
When I worked for architects, one of our Newfoundlands fell seriously ill after an operation and died a few days later.
I was so upset I didn't return to work until over a week later, despite a "warning" from my boss. it really didn't matter to me at the time.
I believe that some, maybe most dog owners regard their dogs as family and that incurs all the heartache that goes with it...
so yes, I agree. |
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Cherskiy

Joined: 08 Dec 2006 Posts: 3701 Location: near Amble, Northumberland
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Posted: Thu Feb 01, 2007 9:54 pm Post subject: |
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SantaFefan wrote: | I believe that some, maybe most dog owners regard their dogs as family and that incurs all the heartache that goes with it...
so yes, I agree. |
I'm sure, SantaFeFan, and that no doubt goes for the majority of pet owners - and whilst I've got some sympathy for your predicament, I can't see a whole host of bosses lining up to take this on. In my experience (as a first aider in the workplace) it's often difficult to get them to accept human ailments, never mind animal ones. _________________ Author: “To the Ends of the Earth: A Snapshot of Aviation in North-Eastern Siberia, Summer 1992”
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gfloyd
Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 4861 Location: Here, There, Everywhere.
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Posted: Sat Feb 03, 2007 9:40 am Post subject: |
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Can't you grieve for your pet whilst still attending work? Surely it is best to keep occupied during times like this. _________________ His name was ernie ........ and he drove the fastest milk cart in the west..... |
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SantaFefan

Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 11258 Location: top of the cliffs in Norfolk
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Posted: Sat Feb 03, 2007 3:10 pm Post subject: |
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Again, speaking personally and not trying to upset cat owners in particular, dogs to me are extra special if that makes sense.
My dogs ( I have two Newfs now ) are a very big part of my life not having kids or much in the way of family either.
I would spend anything on them, go to any length to save them in a disaster such as a fire and have as much love for them as much as I would for any family member or friend. ( think what you want of that )
So yes, when she died back then I was wrecked, as when my dad died. I hated the world and everything in it.
I wanted to be on my own and work was the last thing on my mind.
I can accept that it isn't possible for others to take that line however... |
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SantaFefan

Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 11258 Location: top of the cliffs in Norfolk
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Posted: Sat Feb 03, 2007 3:23 pm Post subject: |
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My wife and I employ about 33 people and I have to say in all honesty that if somebody's pet dog died and they were genuinely distraught and wanted a few days off I wouldn't object. |
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Barkingbiker

Joined: 11 Dec 2006 Posts: 2313 Location: Lincolnshire
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Posted: Sat Feb 03, 2007 3:31 pm Post subject: |
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Our dogs have always been part of the family, we recently lost our Jack Russell/Corgy cross after 17 years. We were very upset, I went to work as normal and found that it actually helped being at work. Having also had a close family bereavement, recently, it is not quite the same thing,IMHO, both very upsetting though. I think the worst thing is the total inability to be able to do anything, just feeling useless and out of control.
BB  _________________ Old Bikers Never Die, our leathers just get tighter! |
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jennyw
Joined: 18 Dec 2006 Posts: 43 Location: Cardiff
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Posted: Sat Feb 03, 2007 5:13 pm Post subject: Compassionate leave |
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When my first cat had to be put to sleep 8 years ago, it was on a Saturday. I was in work as usual on the Monday and still a bit upset, so had a photo of Dinah on the front of my PC. One of the staff came in, looked at the pic and said 'Ooh goody, lunch' I just burst into tears, he was such an insensitive twit.
I feel the same as others who love their pets, but if I were still working at that place I would have to take my annual leave even if a parent or child died. One of the managers had to take leave when her mum passed away, but the director had a month off on comp. leave. One rule for them and stuff the staff! _________________ I like cats and music |
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gfloyd
Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 4861 Location: Here, There, Everywhere.
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Posted: Sat Feb 03, 2007 5:16 pm Post subject: |
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The difference between a pet and a human dying is that obviously you dont need time off to deal with their affairs such as their will or handling their personal effects. _________________ His name was ernie ........ and he drove the fastest milk cart in the west..... |
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