Pet owners lack legal right to bereavement leave
A report highlights that UK employees have no legal entitlement to time off work when a pet dies, leaving owners to make difficult choices.
The Full Story
A plain summary built from the channels that reported this story.
A new report has highlighted a gap in UK employment law: employees have no legal right to time off work when a pet dies. This leaves grieving owners with a difficult choice between going to work and taking time to say goodbye, and many feel forced to take sick leave instead.
Michelle Weller, from Swindon, described the loss of her dog Bailey as devastating. She said: "I phoned up immediately and reported sick because there's no other way of doing it, so you have to go sick." She took the rest of that week off, but then returned to work while still grieving. "I struggled. I almost had to then try and keep my emotions in check and just go on autopilot," she said. She relied heavily on the Blue Cross pet loss support service, calling their helpline daily.
Psychotherapist Shelly Treacher, based in Bristol, said pet loss affects people in the same way as human loss. "Pet loss and human loss are all registered exactly the same way in the nervous system, so we have the same responses," she explained. Going straight back to work can lead to irritability, upset, tiredness, distraction and feeling overwhelmed, which can affect performance.
Under current UK law, parents are entitled to two weeks of bereavement leave and pay if a child dies. But for any other loss, including a pet, it is up to the employer. The Employment Rights Act is currently under review, with changes to bereavement leave expected next year. However, it is unlikely that time off for pet loss will be included.
Some argue that pet bereavement leave should be part of wider compassionate leave policies. Others point out that defining the criteria would be difficult, as reactions to loss vary from person to person. For Michelle and many others, life must go on, but it may never be the same again.
On screen
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Key Claims
Claims reported during this story's coverage, mapped by channel. Ordered by how many channels carried each claim.
| Claim | ITV |
|---|---|
| Parental bereavement leave allows two weeks for the death of a child. | |
| The Employment Rights Act is under review, with changes expected next year, but pet loss is unlikely to be included. | |
| UK law does not provide a statutory right to bereavement leave for pet loss. |
Channel Perspectives
What each channel focused on, with key quotes.
This channel focused on the human impact of the lack of legal protection, using a personal case study from Swindon and expert commentary from a Bristol psychotherapist. It highlighted the emotional toll and the practical dilemma for workers, while also noting the upcoming review of the Employment Rights Act. The tone was sympathetic and locally anchored, with no mention of any opposing views or broader national context beyond the legal framework.
- “I phoned up immediately and reported sick because there's no other way of doing it, so you have to go sick.”
- “Pet loss and human loss are all registered exactly the same way in the nervous system, so we have the same responses.”
- “I think that pet bereavement leave could be and should be included in company policies around compassion and bereavement in general.”
Broadcast Timeline
News broadcasts tracked for this story, in time order.