A teenager has launched a petition for pet owners like her to have a bereavement leave from work.
Emma McNulty from Baillieston started a campaign to demand a bereavement leave at work after her employers did not allow her to take the day off when she lost her Yorkshire Terrier, Milly.
Losing a beloved pet who had been with her for 14 years, it is understandable to know that it left McNulty devastated. So when her pooch died on Saturday, she immediately called her boss at a local food chain restaurant, where she works, to tell them she could not make it to work on the same day.
Instead of being shown some compassion, the 18-year old was fired from her job.
“Instead of being shown the compassion and sympathy stated in the contract, I was sent a number of nasty messages and told I had to cover my shift as no bereavement time was allowed for pets,” she said.
“I did not go to work that day and I was fired and left unemployed the same day as losing my best friend, this caused me extreme distress and sickness,” she said.
McNulty said that her pooch Milly was a valued member and companion, and some employers should be more acceptable to someone who just lost a member of the family.
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– More than half of dog owners kiss their pooches more than their partners, survey shows
– Do our pets really love us or do they just stay for food?
