Petition Make employers offer bereavement leave following the death of a pet

The loss of a pet is a traumatic experience with research showing that the death of a companion animal is "just as devastating as the loss of a human significant other" (Planchon et al, 2002: 94). Yet Employment rights do not currently recognise the loss of a pet in terms of bereavement leave.

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Academic studies repeatedly show that companion animal guardians (pet owners) consider their companion animals as family members (Voith, 1985). Consequently the grief following a pet's death carries the same psychological and physical problems that occur when a significant human dies (Gerwolls & Labott, 1994). Employment rights recognise the need for a period of bereavement leave following the death of a human dependent but no formalised equivalent is afforded following the loss of a pet.

This petition is closed This petition ran for 6 months

72 signatures

Progress of the petition towards its next target: 72 of 10,000 signatures required to get a government response

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10,000 signatures required to get a government response

Date closed 11 February 2017
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