PD Insurance officially offers employees two days of Pet Bereavement Leave after the loss of a beloved dog or cat, recognising that the grief that follows can be profound for many people.
The new discretionary benefit reflects PD Insurance’s commitment to employee wellbeing and its aim of creating a workplace where people feel supported through all of life’s moments.
And for Chief Operating Officer Michelle Le Long, it’s a natural step for a company whose people work with pets every day.
“Our pets are another family member,” Le Long said. “We know how much they mean to people, and we know that when you lose one, you need time and space to breathe, remember, reflect and recharge.”
Under the new policy, employees are entitled to two days of Pet Bereavement Leave when they lose a dog or cat they own, or that permanently resides with them at their primary place of residence.
Before the policy was formally introduced, one of PD’s own employees experienced firsthand why that time can matter.
A dog-friendly workplace
For Sheryl, PD Insurance’s Head of Operations NZ, Pet Bereavement Leave is deeply personal. Her beloved dog Harry, a Maltese, Bichon and Chihuahua cross, was 14½ when he was diagnosed with leukaemia.
After his diagnosis, Harry joined Sheryl at the PD office, making their final months together especially precious. Her colleagues and Shore Vets in Devonport supported her through Harry’s treatment and his final days.
“It was devastating news knowing there was nothing that could be done other than make him comfortable and pain-free until it was time to say goodbye,” she said.
“Harry was more than a pet; he was family. Our pets are so precious; they love you unconditionally, and Harry always knew when I needed a cuddle.”
Fortunately, PD Insurance is a pet-friendly workplace, so Sheryl could bring Harry into the office during his final weeks. This experience, and the support Sheryl received from PD, helped inspire the formal introduction of Pet Bereavement Leave.
A benefit shaped by pet parents
The introduction of Pet Bereavement Leave also reflects what PD Insurance has heard directly from the pet-owning community.
In PD Insurance’s 2024 Pet Parent survey, people were asked: “Should employers allow their employees ‘pet leave’ to look after a sick pet or time to grieve a pet that has passed away?” 82.3 percent said yes.
When PD asked the same question in its most recent 2026 Pet Trends Survey, support had risen to 83.2 percent. The responses show how significant losing a pet can be.
For Le Long, the survey results reinforce what PD Insurance’s own employees as pet people already understand.
“For PD, it would only make sense to offer this to our staff. They work with people’s pets every day, so it’s a very difficult situation to be in when yours has just passed,” she said.
“The response from our community has been incredibly clear. More than eight in ten people told us they believe employees should have support when a pet is sick or has passed away, and we’ve now decided to put that belief into practice for our own pet people.”
For a company built around helping people protect the pets they love, Le Long added that extending that care to its own people was a natural next step.
“Our people give so much every day, and we want them to know that when life happens, including the loss of a much-loved pet, they don’t have to pretend they’re unaffected. Sometimes you just need a little time.”
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