Italy allows sick leave for pet care

Authorities in Italy allow employees to take sick leave to care for their pets under certain conditions.

Employees can receive up to three days of paid sick leave per year to care for a pet, provided they present a certificate issued by a veterinarian and the animal is officially registered, CE Report quotes MOLDPRES.

The measure is based on a court ruling from 2017, when a court in Rome ruled in favor of a woman who missed work to care for her sick dog. At the time, judges determined that failing to provide necessary care for an animal could constitute a violation of the law.

Since then, this approach has been reinforced in practice, with authorities recognizing the legal responsibility of pet owners toward their animals and the possibility of taking sick leave for this purpose.