PD Pet Insurance Introduces Pet Bereavement Leave
The company began offering two days of paid time off for pet loss on October 1, 2026.
Updated on Oct. 27, 2026 in Pet Health
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PD Pet Insurance launched a new policy on October 1, 2026, granting its 200 employees two days of paid leave following the death of a pet. This benefit allows staff to take the time either together or separately on a good faith basis.
Why it matters
The company introduced this policy to allow employees dedicated time to grieve, viewing the benefit as cost neutral due to the low frequency of pet loss. This move aligns with public sentiment, as 83.2% of pet owners in New Zealand support employers offering such leave.
The policy provides two days of leave for 200 employees across New Zealand and Australia. This compares to the three days of statutory bereavement leave currently mandated by New Zealand law for the death of human family members.
The players
PD Pet Insurance
This organization operates in New Zealand and Australia, employing 200 staff members.
The details
The policy recognizes the bond between owners and the estimated 1.26 million cats and 830,000 dogs living in New Zealand. While pet insurance coverage in the region remains between 15% and 20%, rising costs in veterinary services, which saw a 7.38% increase in Q1 2025, reflect the growing financial significance of pet ownership.
Timeline
Average sick days were 5.5 per employee in 2022.
Support for pet leave stood at 82.3% among pet owners in 2024.
Veterinary service prices rose 7.38% year-on-year during Q1 2025.
Veterinary service prices increased by 4.02% year-on-year in Q4 2025.
The pet bereavement leave policy became effective on October 1, 2026.
Culture Shift
This policy reflects a broader societal movement toward recognizing pets as integral family members, mirroring public support for non-traditional bereavement benefits. It marks a departure from standard corporate leave structures that strictly define family bereavement by human relationships.
For the company's workforce, this policy eliminates the need to use personal sick leave or vacation time to process the death of a pet. It sets a precedent that may influence other employers to adopt similar flexible leave policies on a good faith basis.
The takeaway
Employers increasingly view pet-focused benefits as a way to support workforce well-being without significantly impacting operational costs. Pet owners can look for similar bereavement clauses in updated employee handbooks as workplace cultures continue to evolve.
Further reading
Learn more about the evolving standards of care and support in the Pet Health section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Insurance Business.
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Should employers offer paid leave to employees for pet bereavement and care?
