Forget baby photos in Slack–some employees are now logging off to raise a different kind of new arrival: a pet. Across the country, companies are giving employees up to two weeks of paid leave to settle in with a pet or grieve one they’ve lost. It’s called “pawternity leave,” and it’s quietly turning pet parenthood into a workplace perk.
As of early 2026, roughly 66% to 71% of U.S. households include a pet–about 87 million to 94 million homes in total. By comparison, fewer than half of households have children under 18, at roughly 33 to 34 million.
With pets now outnumbering kids in American homes, offering paid “pawternity leave” alongside traditional family leave is starting to feel less like a novelty and more like a natural fit.
And it’s not just a feel good perk.
Studies suggest that when employees are given time to bond with a new pet–or process the loss of one–they return to work with reduced burnout, stronger focus, and greater loyalty. Recognizing the human-animal bond, experts say, allows employees to actually process major life moments instead of pushing through them, which can ultimately lead to higher engagement on the job.
Companies including Mars Petcare, mParticle, BitSol Solutions, and BrewDog are among those already offering some version of pawternity leave, with policies ranging from a few days to as much as two full weeks.
In New York City, however, there’s no legal requirement yet for paid pet bereavement leave–but that could change.
In late 2024, a proposed bill (Int. 1089-2024) was introduced to amend the Earned Safe and Sick Time Act, allowing employees to use paid sick leave to care for an animal “that needs medical diagnosis, care or treatment of a physical illness, injury or health condition.”
Not everyone is sold on the idea.
Critics argue that extending paid leave for pets could blur the line between personal choices and employer responsibilities, potentially creating tension among coworkers who don’t receive similar benefits. Others question whether pet care should be equated with childcare when it comes to workplace policy.
Supporters, on the other hand, say the logic is simple: if pets are considered family, then time off to care for them–or to grieve them–should be treated with the same seriousness as other family-related leave. And with millions of pet-owning households across the country, more employers appear to be embracing that mindset.
For now, pawternity leave remains a growing workplace trend rather than a standardized benefit in New York–but with this legislation on the table, it may not stay that way for long.
