Should workers get time off to mourn pets?

For many pet owners, losing a companion animal can feel like losing a family member. But whether that grief should be recognized at work remains a divisive question in South Korea. A small but growing number of companies now offer pet bereavement leave, reflecting the rise of pets as family members. But the idea remains controversial, exposing a gap between changing household realities and workplace benefits still largely built around marriage, childbirth and childcare. As of 2026, only a handfu