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dotti34 · 27-05-2021, 07:18

Yes, I know this is an Australian thing, but I thought I’d share it with you and ask what you think about it. Over here there are of course, as is the case in the UK, numerous reasons for an employee to be entitled to take (paid) time off. However, it is the push for the latest one that I must tell you about. PETernity. That’s right – entitlement to paid leave if a pet is sick or needs some sort of attention – even two days off when introducing a new pet to the family.

Now I do know how much their pets mean to people (been there, done that) but honestly! One comment made by a person pushing for 'pet leave' was that people can get paid time off if their child is sick so why not if their dog or cat is. This man didn’t seem to think it would apply to goldfish but maybe it could extend to rabbits! When asked why not just take a day off annual leave the reply was ‘that’s if you have any left’. I think the main emphasis here is on the ‘paid’ part.

Probably some of you will say that as their pet is an important part of the family this sort of leave should be a given, but I did check the date and it isn’t April 1st, which if it had been would have explained it to me – that’s what I think about it.

As I said, this is in Australia – where any excuse for a day off is par for the course. (Please don’t tell me you already have Peternity Leave over there).

27-05-2021, 07:18	#1
dotti34 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 1,189 Blog Entries: 80 Liked: 1480 times Rep Power: 833512	What next... Yes, I know this is an Australian thing, but I thought I’d share it with you and ask what you think about it. Over here there are of course, as is the case in the UK, numerous reasons for an employee to be entitled to take (paid) time off. However, it is the push for the latest one that I must tell you about. PETernity. That’s right – entitlement to paid leave if a pet is sick or needs some sort of attention – even two days off when introducing a new pet to the family. Now I do know how much their pets mean to people (been there, done that) but honestly! One comment made by a person pushing for 'pet leave' was that people can get paid time off if their child is sick so why not if their dog or cat is. This man didn’t seem to think it would apply to goldfish but maybe it could extend to rabbits! When asked why not just take a day off annual leave the reply was ‘that’s if you have any left’. I think the main emphasis here is on the ‘paid’ part. Probably some of you will say that as their pet is an important part of the family this sort of leave should be a given, but I did check the date and it isn’t April 1st, which if it had been would have explained it to me – that’s what I think about it. As I said, this is in Australia – where any excuse for a day off is par for the course. (Please don’t tell me you already have Peternity Leave over there).