Paw-ternity leave for pet owners

You’ve heard about parental leave, but what about paw-rental leave?

Financial services firm FlexiGroup has introduced an employment policy designed to help pet owners better balance their work and home lives.

It means that employees can take up to five days’ leave when they introduce a new cat or dog into the family.

If an animal dies, they can take a day’s paid leave for bereavement.

It was prompted by the death of chief people officer Nicole Francis’s dog, Mia, last year.

Chief executive Chris Lamers said the company aimed to have an inclusive workplace. ‘‘When someone’s pet dies, or they get a new pet, it can be quite life-changing.

‘‘If you don’t have children – or even if you do – you consider a pet to be part of the family.’’

He said it reflected the changing face of New Zealand households, with more people opting to have children later in life, or not at all.

Head of marketing Jacqui Hourigan made use of the policy when she introduced Clooney, a Newfoundland puppy, to her family.

She needed time off to help to settle him in alongside her five-year-old dog, Bosley.

‘‘It meant I could introduce him to the older Newfoundland . . . who had a bit of only child syndrome.’’

She said that because her husband worked from home, taking the leave meant they had an equal opportunity to bond with the puppy.

She said the policy showed Flexigroup understood there were different types of families, and made people less self-conscious about asking for time off for things such as vet visits.

‘‘The company animal-friendly.’’ culture is very