Footscray’s Verso Learning introduces pet leave for employees

EVER wanted to take a day off work to look after your sick pet, and get paid for it? A Footscray start-up — in what it believes is an Australian first — is offering just that, and it’s not the only perk offered to animal-loving staff.

SICK days and leave to help settle hairy new members of the family are part of a groundbreaking deal at a Footscray company.

Verso Learning, an education technology company based in Australia and the United States, believes it has enacted an Australian first by building into its workplace agreement carer days for employees to look after their pets.

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Coinciding with the Chinese Year of the Dog, all employees will be entitled to up to five days’ leave should their pet become sick or injured, two days to help settle new pets and two days’ bereavement should their pet die.

The company has initially limited the criteria to companion animals, which it classifies as cats and dogs, but is willing to consider employee claims for other animals like goldfish or lizards.

Verso Learning employees Bobby McLaughlin and Tom Davies and chief executive Colin Wood with Mabel the cavoodle. Picture: James Ross

The Footscray office boasts eight full-time staff, who between them own four dogs and one cat.

The dogs are a regular feature in the office on work days.

Verso chief executive Colin Wood said the policy has already loosely been in place but was now officially in writing, which was also the case in the United States branch.

“Many of our employees with pets consider them an important part of the family and would be devastated if they died or were injured,” he said.

“Our new policy recognises this and means they will not need to worry about work at an already difficult and stressful time.”

Bobby McLaughlin with Mabel. Picture James Ross

The company also offers employees time off for mental wellbeing days, subsidised sports activities and free counselling to encourage active lifestyles and positive mindsets.

The drive to improve employee conditions is part of Verso’s push to gain B-Corporation certification which recognises companies’ social, environmental and employee impact.

B Corporations have assessments that look at their governance, transparency, environmental and social impact and work to create a positive impact on the world.

The Fair Work Ombudsman of Australia doesn’t classify pets, or any non-human, as an immediate or household member worthy of carers’ leave, but allows employers and employees to create their own agreements.