Italy has recognised caring for a sick pet as a valid reason to take paid
leave from work, making it one of the first countries to put pet care on the same footing
as other certified absences.
Under the arrangement described by employment lawyers, an employee can take up to three
paid days a year to care for an animal that is ill. Two conditions apply: the pet must be
microchipped and registered, and a veterinarian must certify that it needs care.
Where the Rule Came From
The principle traces back to a 2017 case involving a worker at Sapienza University in
Rome, who sought leave to care for a seriously ill pet. The outcome of that case
established that an employer refusing such leave could be at odds with animal welfare
obligations, and it became the reference point for the framework that followed.
What It Covers
The leave is paid and capped at three days in a year. The microchip requirement means
it applies to registered companion animals rather than any animal in the household, and the
veterinary certificate is what turns an absence into a documented one rather than ordinary
personal leave.
Why It Is Being Watched
Roughly half of Italian households keep a pet, and employers elsewhere in Europe have
offered similar leave as a voluntary benefit rather than a legal entitlement. Putting it in
a national framework is what makes the Italian approach unusual, and it is why
international employment practices have written it up for clients operating in Italy.
Italy Pet Leave FAQ
How many days of pet leave can workers in Italy take?
Up to three paid days a year, according to employment law commentary on the Italian
framework.
What conditions have to be met?
The animal must be microchipped and registered, and a veterinarian must certify that it
requires care. Without the certificate the absence is ordinary personal leave.
Where did the idea come from?
A 2017 case brought by a worker at Sapienza University in Rome who sought time off to
care for a seriously ill pet. That case became the reference point for the later
framework.
Does this apply anywhere else in Europe?
Some employers elsewhere offer pet care leave as a company benefit, but Italy’s
approach is notable for setting it out as a recognised entitlement rather than leaving it
to individual employers.
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