WORKPLACE SUPPORT

CHANGING THE PARADIGM

There is no federal law that requires employers to provide days of bereavement leave for their employees, but many states have laws that require employers to provide some amount of unpaid leave for employees who have lost a loved one.

The goal of this document is not to expand additional days to any organization's bereavement policy, but instead to educate and inspire them to include of Pets as part of their bereavement policy.

Download this form to support you proactively discussing with your Human Resource Department.

GETTING THE CONVERSATION STARTED

We want you to be prepared to speak with your Human Resources Department and your organization’s executive team.

Included is a draft email template you can use to start the conversation with HR. Consider attaching the Changing the Paradigm and FAQs documents.

FAQS

It’s often not just about convincing your HR team, but then HR is going to have to make this pitch to executives to get approved. We want to arm you, and them, with talking points to help navigate questions that executives may have.

Included are frequently asked questions they may ask.

HOW TO SUPPORT EMPLOYEES

"Greater society doesn’t recognize the intensity of this loss and the grieving that comes with it" said Jessica Kwerel, a D.C. psychotherapist who specializes in pet loss.

After a loss, many times we just want our loss to be acknowledged. We don’t want to be fixed; we want our feelings to be heard. It helps us work through our feelings when we can share how deeply we loved the pet we lost.

We struggle as society to know how to help and even more at work. This guide is meant to help organizations talk to their teams and managers on how to handle pet loss within the team.