What do you think of when you have a day off? Time with family? A day to unwind?
Leaves are not only necessary for one to feel unconstrained, but they also dispense work-life balance amidst the masses and are a vital part of the glue that holds a society together. Or, in this case, some quality time with your four-legged companions!
When Boxpark’s CEO, Roger Wade, took to social media after an employee sought paid time off to spend with their dogs, he was startled to learn that 39% of the voters agreed. That’s a lot for a brand-new concept.
Untwining the history of humans and pets might be a daunting task, but one thing is very evident pets are more than just pets – they are family. Even though pet ownership patterns vary from country, dogs outnumber other pets in almost all. There are currently 900 million dogs and 500 million cats on the planet! Quite a number, right?
The pet population has always been on the rise over the decade, and the pet adoption interest sparked by the pandemic has resulted in an uptick in pet ownership across the globe. The number of pets owned had rocketed by 3.2 million in the UK alone during the 2021 lockdown.
Hundreds of individuals worldwide are smiling, thanks to the countless Daisies and Jimmies!
What exactly is pawternity leave? Imagine you are getting or adopting a new pet, the settling process will take some time. Any young pet, like a baby, requires time to bond with its owners, adjust to its new environment, and learn its routines.
While businesses aim to help you feel more connected to your family and maintain a work-life balance, there are innumerable reasons why you should spend enough time with your pets too.
Although various employee work rules and regulations outlined are unbiased, impartial, and fair, not everyone adheres to them since different employees have different needs. According to a Forbes study, millennials will make up 75% of the workforce by 2030. With more millennials joining the workforce, there is an increasing need to cater to the demands of the distinct and rapidly evolving workforce, thereby fostering workplace inclusivity.
While it may sound surprising, companies may find that pawternity leaves are used more than paternity or maternity leaves as the millennial and gen Z population increases. One of the first companies to use the concept of pawternity leave was Mars Petcare. Non-pet-care businesses, such as breweries, have begun to offer pawternity leaves to employees to accommodate their needs.
With the trend on the rise, it is important to examine some of the reasons why companies should considering offering pawternity leaves.
– Pawternity leaves not only allow employees to spend time with their pets, but also enhance staff morale. The feeling that your company cares about its employees will also instill loyalty.
– Maximum productivity – something everyone wants to achieve, but only a few manage to. Pawternity leaves ensures that employees do not come to the workplace with their hearts at home during the first few days of adopting a pet.
– HR policies and procedures evolve in response to the changing needs of the company’s workforce. Pet-friendly policies aid in retaining pet lovers within the company and keep them satiated at the workplace.
On this subject, people have differing viewpoints. While some are receptive as they believe it can be favourable for pet lovers, some think it might be unfair since some workplaces do not even have paternity leaves. Others who still consider themselves to be pet lovers say that it can be discriminatory toward non-legged animals. Do you think it’s truly worth skipping work for a pet, whether you’re an animal lover or not?
Get in touch with us to know more about Neeyamo’s global payroll and EOR services.
