At This Firm, ‘Fur-Ternity Leave’ Gives Workers Time With Their New Pets

It’s part of a trend toward pet-related employee benefits.

A Minneapolis company is making national headlines for an employee benefit it’s offering called “fur-ternity leave.”

When workers at Nina Hale, a digital marketing company, get a new pet, they’re entitled to a week of flexible hours, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.

“What we’re trying to do is make sure we have benefits that accommodate people throughout their lives, whether they’re needing more flexibility to care for an aging loved one or whether they’re adopting a new pet at home,” said Allison McMenimen, executive director for the company.

The perk applies to “any animal that doesn’t primarily live in a cage,” she told the Star Tribune.

Last year, in reporting on its annual roster of the country’s Best Workplaces, Inc. magazine noted that 9 percent of those employers offered perks designed to appeal to pet owners. Examples of such benefits included animal-friendly workspaces, pet insurance and pet-product discounts.

Read more at the Star Tribune