Feds get time off to care for domestic partners, but not pets

[The Straight Story]

Feds get time off to care for domestic partners, but not pets


Federal employees can now officially take leave to care for ill domestic partners.

In a final rule published in the Federal Register on Monday, the Office of Personnel Management clarified that partners of the same and the opposite sex count as family members for the purposes of sick leave, funeral leave, voluntary leave transfer, voluntary leave banks and emergency leave transfer. Parents of domestic partners also fall under the definition of family members and immediate relatives, according to the personnel agency.

"When implemented, these regulations will help ensure that agencies consider the needs of a diverse workforce and provide employees with the broadest support possible to help them balance their work, personal and family obligations," the rule stated.

....

OPM nixed a suggestion to include pets in the definition of family members, noting, "while we agree that a person may have a close bond with his or her pet," employees still must use annual leave or leave without pay to stay home with sick pets.

http://www.govexec.com/story_page.cfm?articleid=45478&oref=todaysnews

[GodlessBiker]

1. I agree with that decision. This isn't Greece.

[customerserviceguy]

2. If we could get funeral leave for pets

There are those who would pick up every sickly stray on the street.

[alphafemale]

3. well a fuzzbutt doesn't exactly need someone to mop its fevered brow or rub Vick's on its chest. nt

[Darth_Kitten]

4. What if it needs tending to? Given medications?

I can accept people needing time off to tend to a sick animal, more than some parent needing time off because their 19 year old has the sniffles.

[SoCalDem]

5. Lines have to be drawn somewhere.. People can always do what they have always done

call in sick, or take vacation time, or board the ill animal at the vet or have a friend/family-member look in on the pet..

I am an animal rescuer (as many here know), but "official office policy" regarding pet care is taking things a bit far..It's stuff like this that gives ammo to the teaparty types.

It's like there are always people who take a perfectly sane policy and then start trying to add "what if's" to it..maybe to push management to the nth degree where they will then halt ALL "special" benefits..

[alphafemale]

6. And anytime i've had a sick pet the meds needed to be given just once or twice a day anyway.

Most animals want to be left the F alone when they are sick anyway. Anthropomorphism is one hell of a thing though. I don't think people that practice it are doing animals any favors. At worst they make the poor things neurotic as hell.