Human Resource Blog

Sick Leave

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After five years managing employees, yesterday was the first time that I was asked to apply sick pay by an employee who had been out of the office for one day due to her sick puppy. How would you handle this situation? Sick leave is to be used by the employee when they are sick to go to doctor’s appts or take an immediate family member to the doctor…I believe if I allow sick pay to be used for this day, this will set a precedent and other employees will be calling that their pets are sick and will be taking a sick day.

Look forward to your response

You are far from the first employer to have this problem. At least the employee isn’t claiming FMLA or maternity leave to bond with her new puppy.

Many companies have an established policy on the circumstances under which an employee may use sick leave. If your company doesn’t have one, now would be a great time to introduce it.

Most companies allow employees to take sick leave when they are sick. Many also permit employees to take sick leave when their child is ill. (Some states require this by law.) Some emplyees are undoubtedly going to feel that their pets are their “children” but for purposes of employment benefits, that is not true.

There is no state or federal law that employers must permit employees to use sick leave when their pet is ill.

You are right that unless this is nipped in the bud, you will have a sudden office-wide outbreak of “canine virus.” The best thing to do would be simply to inform the employee that this does not meet the company standards for paid sick leave.

At many companies, this employee would be disciplined for an unexcused absence.

Situations like this are one reason that many employers are going to PTO, or paid time off – a no-fault personal leave plan where employers grant a certain number of paid days off to be used for any reason.

However, since your company gives sick leave and not personal time or paid time off, you are well within your rights to refuse to pay the worker for this day.