"At the time, Betty's team was experiencing a seasonal high workload and her absence was felt by all. When her manager called to find out if anything was wrong, Betty answered, sounding very upset. While quietly sobbing, she explained to her manager in a broken voice that her beloved cat had died over the weekend and that she was currently emotionally incapable of returning to work."
"Betty's manager never had a pet and found it hard to conceal their frustration with the additional workload Betty's absence had created. On her return, she was met with awkward silence and quiet dismissal, other than her manager remarking that "well, it was just a cat." For millions of people, a pet isn't "just" anything. Pets are attachment figures, daily companions, sources of routine and emotional regulation."
Pet loss can produce grief as profound as human bereavement because pets serve as attachment figures, companions, routine sources, and emotional regulators. Disenfranchised grief occurs when grief is not openly acknowledged or socially supported, which complicates healing and prolongs distress. Workplace mishandling of pet bereavement can exacerbate suffering, reduce productivity, and alienate valued employees, as illustrated by an employee who missed work after her cat's death and returned emotionally impaired. Managers without personal pet experience should avoid minimizing the loss or expressing frustration; they should instead acknowledge the grief with empathy, warmth, and reasonable accommodations to support recovery and well-being.
Read at Psychology Today
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