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

**Cataholic** · 03-04-2010, 11:09 AM

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** · 03-04-2010, 11:18 AM

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** · 03-04-2010, 11:28 AM

Originally Posted by 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.

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.

**krazyaboutkatz** · 03-04-2010, 12:44 PM

Yes, I agree that we should be able to take time off after the loss of a pet if we feel we need to. In the past I've just taken one day off for my RB Pepper and my RB Starr but that was also the same day that they were PTS which just happened to be a work day. I still wasn't ready to go back to work yet but I did. I also used a vacation day for this.

Since my current vet works on Sundays I decided that this would be a better day to have Sunny PTS so I didn't have to miss work. I really should've taken Mon. off because I was still in a lot of pain.

Work does help me keep my mind off of things but on my breaks or even while driving to or from work I'll catch myself thinking about Sunny and I'll start getting all teary eyed again.

My boss is understanding about this because he too has lost some pets before so he knows the pain that people go through.

**lizbud** · 03-04-2010, 07:12 PM

Originally Posted by 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.

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** · 03-04-2010, 07:25 PM

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** · 03-04-2010, 08:37 PM

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** · 03-04-2010, 08:52 PM

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** · 03-05-2010, 05:09 AM

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?!

**pomtzu** · 03-05-2010, 08:06 AM

Originally Posted by 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 !!!!

That just breaks my heart (and turns my stomach)! How could anyone do that to a beloved pet???

**wombat2u2004** · 03-05-2010, 08:09 AM

Originally Posted by pomtzu

That just breaks my heart (and turns my stomach)! How could anyone do that to a beloved pet???

Well that was many years ago. And if it's any consolation, I was talking to my mate last month, and actually brought up that subject. He said to date she hasn't had any luck in life.
I wonder why !!!!

**Maya & Inka's mommy** · 03-05-2010, 09:53 AM

I agree 100% !!!
After my Sydney's passing, it felt as if I had lost a real child!!

Lots of people didn't understand my grief

and told me "it's just a cat

"

I love my cats sooooooooo much, they are like my children to me!!

**krazyaboutkatz** · 03-05-2010, 12:42 PM

Originally Posted by Maya & Inka's mommy

I agree 100% !!!
After my Sydney's passing, it felt as if I had lost a real child!!

Lots of people didn't understand my grief

and told me "it's just a cat

"

I love my cats sooooooooo much, they are like my children to me!!

Unfortunately many people feel this way.

I never married and I have no children of my own so my furkids are my family and the children that I never had. Luckily the few people at my work who know about Sunny's passing have all been very compassionate towards me. There are some people that I wouldn't even bother telling because they would say "what's the problem he was only a cat."

Sometimes even my parents don't quite understand why I spend so much money on my cats by taking them to the vet etc.

**Lillycat** · 03-06-2010, 10:28 AM

this " rallying round" the person who has lost their pet..... as i read many of these posts I found myself saying "yes, that is how I felt" realizing that PT people truly understand each of our losses.....you all gave me such support recently .....thank you all again for that!

**moosmom** · 03-06-2010, 02:19 PM

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.