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Cat Forum / Cat Anecdotes / May 2004Eight million 'sick' days over pet deaths
RUSSELL JACKSON in The Scotsman GRIEVING pet owners collectively take eight million "sick" days a year to get over the death of their animals, according to new research. Just over half of the UK's 14.5 million pet owners said they would need between two and five days off work to grieve for their pet - while 10% said they would need as much as two weeks, according to insurer Direct Line. Only one in five pet owners thought they would need more time off work to come to terms with the loss of a family member or close friend. The group estimates that grieving owners cost UK businesses around ?127 million a year in sick pay during the time they take off when their pet dies. But 79% of people admitted they did not think their boss would be sympathetic, and the only way they could get time off work was by lying, usually pretending to be ill. Chris Price, pet business manager at Direct Line, said: "Losing a pet can be a very emotional time and can often leave a huge void in many pet owners' lives. The death of a pet is more difficult to deal with than that of a relative or family friend as pet owners often find there is a lack of understanding, sympathy or empathy from family, friends or co-workers." He said as a result of this Direct Line Pet Insurance had set up a 24-hour bereavement helpline to help policyholders come to terms with the loss of their pet. "These callers need a great deal of understanding and compassion shown to them and often call back on more than one occasion, even many weeks after their loss." > RUSSELL JACKSON in The Scotsman > GRIEVING pet owners collectively take eight million "sick" days a [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > while 10% said they would need as much as two weeks, according to > insurer Direct Line. I don't know about the UK or insurance actuarial studies, but I know when my little dog, Sampson, died after nearly 18 years in November, 1999. I was totally devastated. I'd gotten him at the age of 21 and was nearly 40 when he died. That's a lifetime; it was like losing a child. I'd had vacation time scheduled for the next week, so I called my supervisor and switched it. I was off work for a week. Even after that, I was walking around in a daze. I had some very sympathetic co-workers; the day after his death, a knock came to the door. I opened it and there was a delivery guy with some beautiful flowers for me. He must have thought I was nuts because I burst into tears. It was 2 years and 2 months later that my cat, Persia, insisted I let her into the house. I didn't want another pet; didn't want to be crushed like that again. But she insisted. And in many ways I suspect Persia is Sampson reincarnated. He must be quite surprised to be a feline and a female! ROFL Jill <snip> >I don't know about the UK or insurance actuarial studies, but I know when my >little dog, Sampson, died after nearly 18 years in November, 1999. I was [quoted text clipped - 16 lines] > >Jill I'm like you, Jill, don't anything about the bean counters who figure these tables and assign $ amounts to these things, but losing a beloved companion is devasting - whether bare or furry. It's good that you had some understanding co-workers, as so many times you run across those who just don't understand that pet owners LOVE their pets. I read this post right after fininshing Marc's post about losing his rabbit Seumas. Part of his tribute to Julia, his Main Coon who he lost a couple years ago, fits in this thread perfectly, "Okay, life goes on and so do we but when a cat has meant so much for a human it's not easy to put her out of your mind (some people do within some days saying:"eh, a cat is just a cat, right?" Those people have never given themselves the change to let a cat getting to know them so well and they did not give themselves the change to be loved by a cat."  SignatureSteve Touchstone, faithful servant of Sammy, Little Bit and Rocky stouchst@JUNKsirinet.net [remove Junk for email] Home Page: http://www.sirinet.net/~stouchst/index.html Cat Pix: http://www.sirinet.net/~stouchst/animals.html I never lost a *day* from work after a pet's RB trip.....just cried the whole work shift. Luckily, this was not noticeable as I worked alone in a very dark room, x-raying people whose minds were on their own miseries and not real observant re their surroundings..... : <snip> : >I don't know about the UK or insurance actuarial studies, but I know when my [quoted text clipped - 32 lines] : themselves the change to let a cat getting to know them so well and : they did not give themselves the change to be loved by a cat." That's a lot why people take off. I mean, there you are, bursting into tears over - to what seems to others - nothing. In most environments, this might be noticed. Otherwise, working, for me is a necessary thing to get over things - break ups, deaths etc. In fact, sometimes I overwork at such times. Karen > I never lost a *day* from work after a pet's RB trip.....just cried the > whole work shift. Luckily, this was not noticeable as I worked alone in a [quoted text clipped - 45 lines] > : themselves the change to let a cat getting to know them so well and > : they did not give themselves the change to be loved by a cat." > The group estimates that grieving owners cost UK businesses around £127 > million a year in sick pay during the time they take off when their pet [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > relative or family friend as pet owners often find there is a lack of > understanding, sympathy or empathy from family, friends or co-workers." Well, I understand that sick leave is somewhat different in other countries, but in most places I've worked, here, we were allowed a certain number of days in addition to vacation time. They call it "sick leave" but actually it's intended to be used for any personal business that must be taken care of during normal business hours. I use mine for doctor's and dentist's appointments, or when I have to take a cat to the vet. (Unlike vacation, which we may carry over to the next year if we don't use it, the unused portion of our sick days are cancelled out at the end of the year - it's a case of "use it or lose it".) My old boss used to get kind of wacked out over taking off to make vet's appointments. But what do they expect you to do? Our vet has even started closing on Saturdays, and during the week open only 9-6. Sherry > My old boss used to get kind of wacked out over taking off to make vet's > appointments. But what do they expect you to do? Our vet has even started > closing on Saturdays, and during the week open only 9-6. Once I decided to abandon my vet in Pasadena (it meant subjecting the cats to a long, long ride on California freeways), I found one close to home who is open until seven P.M. on weekdays, until 3 P.M. on Saturday, and until noon on Sunday - they're even slightly less expensive than the one in Pasadena. (It's a multiple vet practice, of course.) They seem very caring - when I had to have Patches put to sleep, even though he was a new patient when I brought him in a week earlier, they not only sent a sympathy card, but it had personal notes from everyone in their office! It's called "Best Friends", but is no relation to the Utah shelter - I asked. (However, they DO subscribe to the magazine.) > Sherry >Once I decided to abandon my vet in Pasadena (it meant subjecting the >cats to a long, long ride on California freeways), I found one close to >home who is open until seven P.M. on weekdays, until 3 P.M. on Saturday, Those are great hours. All the vets in this county "stick together"--and have the same hours. You are supposed to call their pagers for emergencies, but from my experience, they are *very* unreliable. Its a real sore spot with me. >> Once I decided to abandon my vet in Pasadena (it meant subjecting the >> cats to a long, long ride on California freeways), I found one close [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > pagers for emergencies, but from my experience, they are *very* > unreliable. Its a real sore spot with me. When I was on my trip to Dallas at the end of March/early April and was boarding Persia and the vet discovered Persia had UTI problems again, he left me a message on my home answering machine and gave me his home phone number - not a pager - so I could discuss it with him. Now *that* is service! Jill > My old boss used to get kind of wacked out over taking off to make > vet's appointments. But what do they expect you to do? Our vet has > even started closing on Saturdays, and during the week open only 9-6. > Sherry It helps if you have (or had) a boss who had pets - they are more understanding. What I didn't "get" was the guy I worked with whose wife didn't work, but he took time off every time their daughter had a doctor's appointment or had a cold or something. Like, uh, your wife is at home, why do you have to be there too? To watch her sleep? Sometimes I think people with children use and abuse the system more than anyone. Jill > > My old boss used to get kind of wacked out over taking off to make > vet's > appointments. But what do they expect you to do? Our vet has > even started [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > appointment or had a cold or something. Like, uh, your wife is at home, why > do you have to be there too? To watch her sleep? Look at it this way, Jill - if a man is THAT much of a control freak, be glad you're not married to him! > Sometimes I think people with children use and abuse the system more than > anyone. > > Jill > > The group estimates that grieving owners cost UK businesses around ?127 > > million a year in sick pay during the time they take off when their pet [quoted text clipped - 16 lines] > don't use it, the unused portion of our sick days are cancelled out at > the end of the year - it's a case of "use it or lose it".) ah, no - doctor's appointments are not "sick leave" - they're just time off for doctor's appointments. Sometimes you get time allowed (paid), sometimes you have to make up the time. (hospital appointments for a registered disability or anti-natal appointments they *have* to give you off - paid) Sick leave, in the UK, is variable - by law your employers *have* to allow you to be sick and if they won't pay you, you can claim sick pay from the Social Security. Most employers have a *guideline* as to how many sick days (or sick periods) you can take off during a year without your records being scrutinised (and if you have a valid medical excuse they can't sack you for being sick - unless it was indicative of health problems that would make continuing to work for them unreasonable), but to *use* that allowance as "personal days" would be severely frowned upon. On the other hand, most employers I know allow "emergency leave" - which may be paid or unpaid - for those .... emergencies such as your house flooding. SignatureJette "Work for Peace and remain Fiercely Loving" - Jim Byrnes jette@blueyonder.co.uk http://www.jette.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/ > ah, no - doctor's appointments are not "sick leave" - they're > just time off for doctor's appointments. Sometimes you get > time allowed (paid), sometimes you have to make up the time. > (hospital appointments for a registered disability or anti-natal > appointments they *have* to give you off - paid) That's why I said it may be different in other countries. Believe me, I've been working for probably more years than you've been alive, and except for the rare company that allowed as much time off as needed (if you were genuinely ill), that's the way it works, most employers in the U.S. (Some people just treat it as extra vacation time - which we don't get nearly as much of as in other countries - but the true purpose is as I stated.) Of course you use it if you are ill, too - and if you're sick for longer than your alloted five days, you either use vacation hours, or go unpaid. (Where do Americans get the idea we have things so much better here than the rest of the world?) > I've been working for probably more years than you've been alive, <g> Unless you are past retirement age, or started working before you left school, it's hardly likely you've been working for more years than I've been alive. (been working myself for 30 + years) SignatureJette "Work for Peace and remain Fiercely Loving" - Jim Byrnes jette@blueyonder.co.uk http://www.jette.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/ > > I've been working for probably more years than you've been alive, > > <g> > > Unless you are past retirement age, I am! (By nearly ten years.) > or started working before > you left school, it's hardly likely you've been working > for more years than I've been alive. (been working myself > for 30 + years) Been on the SAME JOB for 30+ years (and had a great many before that, for periods ranging from three days to ten years). > -- > Jette > "Work for Peace and remain Fiercely Loving" - Jim Byrnes > jette@blueyonder.co.uk > http://www.jette.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/ I talked to the nicest woman at the pet supply store today. I bought a case of Nutro canned puppy food and she asked what kind of puppy we had. (It is for the tiny, ancient blind deaf toothless poodle. I finally found something she can and will eat that is reasonably good for her) Conversation turned to my "teenage" Siamese girlcat Rosie. And she said perfectly naturally "my best friend was a female Siamese cat" My kind of cat person. I'm starting to think crazy cat (and dog) people may be the next group to come out of the proverbial closet. Jo > RUSSELL JACKSON in The Scotsman > GRIEVING pet owners collectively take eight million "sick" days a year to [quoted text clipped - 19 lines] > shown to them and often call back on more than one occasion, even many weeks > after their loss." > My kind of cat person. I'm starting to think crazy cat (and dog) people may > be the next group to come out of the proverbial closet. Didn't know we were ever IN one! im barely even allowed to take a day off work if i truly am sick, can you im agine your hairstyist coloring or cutting your hair all sick and sneezing, weezing snotty etc.. and we have to work taht is unless we have a doctors note for being sick cant imagine them even letting me have a day off cause my cat died, or dog or f rog for that matter > RUSSELL JACKSON in The Scotsman > GRIEVING pet owners collectively take eight million "sick" days a year to [quoted text clipped - 19 lines] > shown to them and often call back on more than one occasion, even many weeks > after their loss." |
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