Some new pet owners pushing for “Pawternity” leave

There’s maternity leave and paternity leave. Now welcome, “paw-ternity” leave.

That’s a recently-coined term for time off for new pet owners, who need to comfort their cat or dog and help train it.

Pawternity leave is already a reality at some companies in the United Kingdom, including BitSol Systems, and now some pet owners in the U.S. say we should bring it here.

Consumer Reports says some U.S. companies already offer paid pet bereavement days, including VM Ware, Maxwell Health, Kimpton Hotels and Restaurants and Trupanion.

Recently author Meghann Foye was criticized for suggesting childless women should get paid time off, or “meternity” as a “time and space for self-reflection.”

The U.S. and Papua New Guinea are the only countries that don’t guarantee paid leave for new mothers, according to the International Labor Organization.

Last month, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors passed legislation mandating six weeks of fully paid parental leave.

What do you think?