Why implement pet care leave?

Benefits of pet care leave

Addressing resentment from non-pet owners

Balancing leave costs for firms

Is Singapore ready for pet care leave?

Why are some Singapore companies willing to bear the expense to implement pet-care leave as a form of benefit?

Synopsis: Every second Wednesday of the month, The Straits Times takes a hard look at Singapore's social issues of the day with guests.

While fewer people are keen on having children, more are becoming pet owners, based on statistics from the Animal and Veterinary Service and an Euromonitor International report.

But what happens if you have a full-time job and your pet is sick? 

Instead of requiring their employees to take urgent leave, some firms in Singapore have begun rolling out pet care leave, for "pawrents" who need to take their furkids to the vet.

Only a small number of firms have started implementing it, but the response from employees has so far been overwhelmingly positive. 

In this episode, ST assistant podcast editor Lynda Hong and her co-host - journalist Aqil Hamzah - ask their two guests whether having a separate leave category the caring of pets is ultimately a good thing, and whether it’d affect the morale of those without pets. 

The two guests are: Emilyn Ang, founder of public relations and marketing agency Brave Communications, which provides three days of “pawrental” leave a year; and Diane Lee, a senior HR business partner for South-east Asia at recruitment firm Robert Walters.

Highlights (click/tap above):

01:34  Considerations behind implementing pet care leave

06:45  Advantages of having pet care leave

09:12  Why employees with no pets shouldn’t feel resentment

14:30 Leave days as an expense, and how firms can balance out the cost

17:30 Are more Singapore firms ready to roll out pet care leave  

Read ST's Opinion section: https://str.sg/w7sH

Read Aqil Hamzah’s articles: https://str.sg/Cc85

Hosts: Lynda Hong (lyndahong@sph.com.sg) and Aqil Hamzah

Produced and edited by: Hadyu Rahim

Executive producer: Ernest Luis

Follow In Your Opinion Podcast here and get notified for new episode drops:

Channel: https://str.sg/w7Qt

Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/wukb

Spotify: https://str.sg/w7sV

Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg

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Follow more ST podcast channels:

All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7

ST Podcasts website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

ST Podcasts YouTube: https://str.sg/4Vwsa

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Get The Straits Times app, which has a dedicated podcast player section:

The App Store: https://str.sg/icyB

Google Play: https://str.sg/icyX

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#inyouropinion

Why are some Singapore companies willing to bear the expense to implement pet-care leave as a form of benefit?
Synopsis: Every second Wednesday of the month, The Straits Times takes a hard look at Singapore's social issues of the day with guests.
While fewer people are keen on having children, more are becoming pet owners, based on statistics from the Animal and Veterinary Service and an Euromonitor International report.
But what happens if you have a full-time job and your pet is sick?&nbsp;
Instead of requiring their employees to take urgent leave, some firms in Singapore have begun rolling out pet care leave, for "pawrents" who need to take their furkids to the vet.
Only a small number of firms have started implementing it, but the response from employees has so far been overwhelmingly positive.&nbsp;
In this episode, ST assistant podcast editor Lynda Hong and her co-host - journalist Aqil Hamzah - ask their two guests whether having a separate leave category the caring of pets is ultimately a good thing, and whether it&rsquo;d affect the morale of those without pets.&nbsp;
The two guests are: Emilyn Ang, founder of public relations and marketing agency Brave Communications, which provides three days of &ldquo;pawrental&rdquo; leave a year; and Diane Lee, a senior HR business partner for South-east Asia at recruitment firm Robert Walters.
Highlights (click/tap above):
01:34&nbsp; Considerations behind implementing pet care leave
06:45&nbsp; Advantages of having pet care leave
09:12&nbsp; Why employees with no pets shouldn&rsquo;t feel resentment
14:30 Leave days as an expense, and how firms can balance out the cost
17:30 Are more Singapore firms ready to roll out pet care leave&nbsp;&nbsp;
Read ST's Opinion section:<a href="https://str.sg/w7sH"> https://str.sg/w7sH</a>
Read Aqil Hamzah&rsquo;s articles: <a href="https://str.sg/Cc85">https://str.sg/Cc85</a>
Hosts: Lynda Hong (<a href="mailto:lyndahong@sph.com.sg">lyndahong@sph.com.sg</a>) and Aqil Hamzah
Produced and edited by: Hadyu Rahim
Executive producer: Ernest Luis
Follow In Your Opinion Podcast here and get notified for new episode drops:
Channel:<a href="https://str.sg/w7Qt"> https://str.sg/w7Qt</a>
Apple Podcasts:<a href="https://str.sg/wukb"> https://str.sg/wukb</a>
Spotify:<a href="https://str.sg/w7sV"> https://str.sg/w7sV</a>
Feedback to: <a href="mailto:podcast@sph.com.sg">podcast@sph.com.sg</a>
---
Follow more ST podcast channels:
All-in-one ST Podcasts channel:<a href="https://str.sg/wvz7"> https://str.sg/wvz7</a>
ST Podcasts website:<a href="http://str.sg/stpodcasts"> http://str.sg/stpodcasts</a>
ST Podcasts YouTube:<a href="https://str.sg/4Vwsa"> https://str.sg/4Vwsa</a>
---
Get The Straits Times app, which has a dedicated podcast player section:
The App Store:<a href="https://str.sg/icyB"> https://str.sg/icyB</a>
Google Play:<a href="https://str.sg/icyX"> https://str.sg/icyX</a>
---
#inyouropinion

A hard look at the social issues of the month in Singapore. Join ST journalists and other guests as they discuss with Lydia Wong.

Synopsis: Every second Wednesday of the month, The Straits Times takes a hard look at Singapore's social issues of the day with guests.

Podcasters: Lynda Hong

Produced and edited by: Hadyu Rahim

Executive producers: Ernest Luis & Lynda Hong

A podcast by The Straits Times, SPH Media.

Synopsis: Every second Wednesday of the month, The Straits Times takes a hard look at Singapore's social issues of the day with guests.
Podcasters: Lynda Hong
Produced and edited by: Hadyu Rahim
Executive producers: Ernest Luis &amp; Lynda Hong
A podcast by The Straits Times, SPH Media.

In Your Opinion

Synopsis: Every second Wednesday of the month, The Straits Times takes a hard look at Singapore's social issues of the day with guests.

Podcaster: Lynda Hong

Produced and edited by: Hadyu Rahim

Executive producers: Ernest Luis & Lynda Hong

A podcast by The Straits Times, SPH Media.

Synopsis: Every second Wednesday of the month, The Straits Times takes a hard look at Singapore's social issues of the day with guests.
Podcaster: Lynda Hong
Produced and edited by: Hadyu Rahim
Executive producers: Ernest Luis &amp; Lynda Hong
A podcast by The Straits Times, SPH Media.

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