26/08/2018
The University of KwaZuluNatal has introduced a new pet-bereavement policy – they will now allow staff to take a day off in order to mourn an animal that was close to them such as a departed dog, or cat..
The report by the Sunday Time says, the policy came into effect in April 2018.
A UKZN spokesperson, Normah Zondo explained that for many university staff their pets were like family and this was in line with the ethos supported by the leadership of the university.
Librarian Ashika Pramlal said that she took pet-bereavement leave when her dog died in June. She needed to plan his funeral according to Hindu rites and mourn his loss.
An administration officer at the university, also took bereavement leave when her pet died in April.
While pet-bereavement and ‘pawternity’ leave (when pet owners adopt a new animal) is increasingly being offered in countries such as the US, Canada, Norway, Sweden and Finland – it is still a relatively new concept in South Africa.
As such, lawyer Jonathan Jones warned that the system may be open to abuse and that employers should know what they were getting themselves into.
“Employees could argue attachment to other types of pets such as rabbits, rats or birds or even cold-blooded pets such as reptiles, snakes or fish,” he said.
