New York City may approve a new law that would allow employees to use paid sick leave to care for pets.
Democratic Rep. Sean Abreu has introduced a bill to update the Paid Vacation and Sick Leave Act. The original law allowed employees to take time off to care for themselves or their families, but the changes would apply to pets and service animals as well.
“Good public policy encourages good behavior,” Abreu told Newsweek. “In this case, we have an opportunity to leverage existing sick leave laws to encourage pet ownership, which brings incremental benefits to our health and mental health. Keeping us healthy is the whole purpose of taking sick leave, which is the law in the first place. ”
Abreu cited research linking pet ownership to lower cortisol levels. Cortisol is a hormone that regulates stress and metabolism, and lower levels have been shown to be associated with better overall mental health. There is also evidence that owning a dog increases physical activity and improves depression.
Antoni Porowski and his dog Neon attend Petco Love’s 25th Birthday Block Party and Adoption Event at Union Square Park on June 2 in New York City. A new bill could make it easier to own a pet… Antoni Porowski and his dog Neon at the Petco Love event at Union Square Park in New York City on June 2. Attend a 25th birthday block party and adoption event. A new bill could make it easier to keep pets in the city. See more of Sara Jay/Getty Images for Petco Love
If passed, this law could increase the number of New Yorkers who adopt animals and improve their mental health. According to the American Pet Products Association, two out of three homes nationwide own pets.
Some companies have already implemented similar policies. Nina Hale, a Minneapolis-based marketing company, allows employees to take time off to adopt a new pet.
Currently, New York City requires employees of large companies to take up to 56 hours of paid leave for personal and family illness or injury. But many Americans already consider pets to be part of the family, so the new rules would add animals to that group.
“Pets are family,” human resources consultant Brian Driscoll told Newsweek. “For many workers, especially those who live in stressful environments like New York City, pets are a major source of emotional support and companionship. We provide employees with paid sick leave to care for their pets. “Enabling employees to use the service recognizes this reality and reinforces that workers have lives and responsibilities outside of work.” ”
New York City is also facing overcrowding at animal shelters as the cost of living soars in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. With veterinary care costs at an all-time high, many shelters are at capacity and unable to take in new animals.
“Just like childcare, pet care can be expensive, which means taking time off to help a sick pet can be expensive,” said Alex Bean, a financial literacy instructor at the University of Tennessee at Martin. “In some cases, it could be a net savings,” he told Newsweek. “At the same time, such policies are likely to be met with skepticism from some lawmakers because of the potential for abuse.However, such a bill would be a challenge to the changing home spaces of many of today’s workers. would suit the needs of
Still, Abreu was confident he would get the approvals needed to pass the bill.
“Millions of New Yorkers own pets, so the impact could be quite far-reaching,” Abreu said. “There are many pet lovers on this city council who care about mental health, so we are optimistic that we will have the support we need to pass this bill.”
Driscoll said the bill has a 50-50 chance of passing, but if it passes, it could set an important precedent for other cities and states to follow.
“If this bill does not pass, it will be yet another example of how we disregard the realities of workers’ lives,” Driscoll said.
Michael Ryan, financial expert and founder of michaelryanmoney.com, said companies that have increased workplace flexibility are also becoming smarter businesses.
“This New York City pet care bill reflects a deeper truth I’ve learned over the years: Trust employees to manage their own time; trust employees to manage their own work. ,” Ryan told Newsweek.
Ryan said when employers trust employees to handle responsibilities on their own terms, it often leads to increased productivity.
“We need to recognize that work-life balance is not a one-size-fits-all thing,” he said. “For many people, their pets are family members. When your dog needs emergency surgery, it’s just as stressful as a family emergency. If you force people to choose between their pet’s health and their paycheck, your employees will It just distracts and makes you anxious.”
Still, Ryan said many business groups are likely concerned about the costs associated with such a bill. Nevertheless, this bill has the potential to pay for itself in terms of increased retention and productivity.
“The most successful companies are adapting to changing social norms,” Ryan said. “Ten years ago, mental health days weren’t widely accepted. Now they’re the norm. Pet care could follow a similar path. Smart employers are already getting ahead of this trend. We provide employees with a flexible paid time off policy that does not require them to justify any reason for their absence. “
