It's only fair, don't you think?

[Taz_Zoee]

When I let Taz go it was Thursday July 2nd. So I already had the next day off for the Independence Day holiday and then the weekend. I also didn't talk about it too much. I waited a couple weeks before telling one co-worker and when I told her we both cried together.
But I agree with happylabs, being at work is easier because I'm not home seeing all the places he would sleep or expect him to come jump in my lap.

Catherinedana, I got tears just reading your post.

[Suki Wingy]

I remember being in 8th grade and one boy who was a bit rude to me at times took a day off of school because his husky was getting pts. The other kids laughed at him when he came back the next day and they asked the reason he was absent. It made me really mad and I remember standing up for him.

That being said, I think the very best thing for me to do when Deacon died was get right back to work. Was my head in it fully? No. A couple of kids got mediocre at best lessons, but everyone understood why I was so distracted. He was my baby and I lived right at the barn so I walked by his stall and said hi to him multiple times a day, every single day. Right away my boss put another one of her horses in his stall, which at first seemed weird but I think it was actually for the best.

[catnapper]

When Nicki passed, I left work, saw her at the vet, and turned around and went back to work!!! What on earth was I thinking? I suppose it was shock... a few days later, my one coworker told me to stop feeling sorry for myself and get over it. I was surprised because the person who said that is an animal communicator!

[Catherinedana]

my one coworker told me to stop feeling sorry for myself and get over it.

Sometimes I wonder if some people even have feelings. I've heard this from others who have lost their parents as well as pet (or should I say "especially pets). Compassion and empathy seem to be a rare commodity.

[Cataholic]

There are no national laws in the US as it relates to bereavement periods. It is a company by company decision. Many of us are blessed to have sick time, vacation time or personal time. If you need to stay home, and have the appropriate time to use, use it.

The problem seems that many, many people use up all the allotted time on 'fun' days and have nothing when it comes to emergency type situations. The other issue I have seen in my years in the work place is the abuse of sick time. The person that calls out with every sniffle is probably not going to have the relationship with his/her boss to call on when something emergent occurs.

I tend to save all my time...never knowing what might come up later on in the year.

[Pawsitive Thinking]

Must remember to hug my boss. He really understands his staff and always says to us "take as long as you need" no matter what the circumstances. Tends to have the effect of making us feel better and actually want to make the effort to come to work.

[Cataholic]

Must remember to hug my boss. He really understands his staff and always says to us "take as long as you need" no matter what the circumstances. Tends to have the effect of making us feel better and actually want to make the effort to come to work.

I couldn't agree more. It is like a bank account, generally, if you (the employee) makes lots of deposits into it, when it comes time for a withdrawal, the bank (employer) approves or authorizes it. Not all the time, but, most of the time, IME.

[lizbud]

There are no national laws in the US as it relates to bereavement periods. It is a company by company decision. Many of us are blessed to have sick time, vacation time or personal time. If you need to stay home, and have the appropriate time to use, use it.

That's the way it is in this country. I've always been in a situation
where I have personal, sick or funeral leave to be used. It would be nice
if businesses allowed time off to grieve our pets. Maybe 50 yrs from now
it might happen,but not in my lifetime.

[wombat2u2004]

Talking about bereavement.
Carol, my mates sister in law had a cat called Timmy. She loved Timmy like mad, and used to do everything for him. One day Timmy died, and Carol was just walking about the house as if nothing happened.
When her father suggested to her that they have some kind of small funeral for Timmy, her reply was "No, Timmy is dead now, just throw him in the bin."
Go figure !!! Some people !!!!

[K9karen]

I think time off to mourn a beloved pet is reasonable. For those folks who don't have pets, well, too bad for you.

I had a wonderful boss many many years ago who gave me a week with pay (unbeknownst to others) to mourn the death of John Lennon. My dad was in the hospital at the same time, so it was a double whammy for me. My dad wanted me with him because he felt my pain and wanted company. I also "paid her back" by being the highest producer that year (and 5 years after) so it made her look good too. She and I have kept in touch occasionally. Funny how you bond with certain people instantly.
I was so lucky and extremely grateful. I know, I know "teacher's pet"

[Lori Jordan]

You are all right,Some Bosses just dont get it!

When i was in my early 20's i lost my cat Sweetie,He and i grew up together and he moved in with me after i left home,Needles to say the say i lost him,I found him in the morning he never showed any signs of being sick,he played,ate normal everything was great,Well little did i know how much they hide these things.I woke up he was gone,Anyways i went into work that afternoon and as soon I got there they knew something was wrong with me.I told one lady what happend and of course started crying,Then you get a bunch of people telling me how sorry they were,NOT MY BOSS!I went in asked him if i could have 15 minutes to get things together,He told me get on cash or i was fired,I basically told him what i thought and i told him I QUIT!Bad decision but your emotions are all over the place,I should have known better,But you live and you learn.

[Pawsitive Thinking]

I was surprised because the person who said that is an animal communicator!

Can't have been a very good one then! How insensitive can you get?!

[moosmom]

Randi,

I totally agree with you. Losing a pet is like losing a loved one. Within 5 months I lost my soulmate, MooShoo, my heart cat Mollie Rose, my best friend Clare, my childhood friend's mother and two newborn kittens that really didn't have a chance. Talk about a double whammy.

I was fortunate in that I had days off after Moo died (I stayed in bed for 3 days). Mollie Rose I took 2 days off. We have a lot of animals loves, rescue people in the store, especially the manager who totally understood.

[Randi]

Thanks for your views, I knew that PTalkers would have the right attitude. I want be employed by a PTalker!

I'm happy for those of you who can cope; in fact I might be be able to also, if the atmosphere where you work is good, but I can assure that most bosses here would not understand people grieving over a cat or a dog. I'm just thinking... would it have been different back in the fifhties or sixties? I don't think so.

[pomtzu]

I'm just thinking... would it have been different back in the fifhties or sixties? I don't think so.

Gosh Randi - I don't think so. I think it probably would have been worse back then.

In this day and age, we do so much more for our pets than previously. Gourmet and specialty foods, grooming, day care, fancy as well as functional clothing, medical treatments and procedures that compare to human healthcare, big specialty stores like Petsmart, toys galore, and on and on. I think there are more sympathetic individuals now who realize that pets are not only animals, but a family member. Years ago, I think pets were thought of more as animals we owned, not family members.

For the most part, it probably would have been unheard of for an employer to be even somewhat understanding of an employee's pet's death. I do think things have come a long way, tho not enough.