Should people be entitled to compassionate leave from work for the death of a family pet, the same way as they'd be if a human relative died?

nope

Its not the same as a human dying. Its just an animal and if some one becomes so upset they can't do work when a pet dies then they need therapy 

Yes, or at least a vacation or sick day should be allowed to be used...I personally have loved all my cats as much as human beings, and suffered the same when they are gone....they too have personalities and are like kids that never grow up. Maybe a goldfish isn’t going to make one cry as much as a dog or cat, but definitely the closer the animal has to the ability to be human-like in emotions and behavior, the more you miss them. They are not just animated stuffed toys, they are real beings. And for me that has hope that every innocent creature goes to Heaven in one form or another, I suffer when one of mine dies....I can only imagine how much harder it is when you are attached to an animal and you believe this life is all that will ever be its existence.

Absolutely!  But this is shithole America where employers do not see their employees as human beings.

'Entitled'?   In general unfortunately no.   Mind you after having one of ours who was perhaps more 'special' than some of othe others, my husband managed to back our then car into a bollard when leaving the vet's.  That dent remained a very sad reminder of that day until we changed cars.

Obviously of the employee is unable to do his job properly immediately after losing a pet, he'd be better off sent home.  Unpaid.   Or use existing vacation time off.

That's up to the employer.   I don't think it's something the government should regulate.

Many employers give PTO that can be used at the employee's discretion for whatever reason they see fit.   I actually prefer this system as it provides more flexibility/privacy for the employee and it takes the responsibility off the employer to be judge and jury on whether someone's request meets the established criteria.

"entitled" NO............ a good employer will allow compassionate time off, paid/unpaid.

Even in countries with strong statuatory employment laws do not have time off for death in the family this depends on what your contract or staff handbook states or your employer's discretion, although many will give time off for close family deaths/funerals but they certainly do not need to

For a cat yes providing there's another colleague who can cover the employee's shift while they grieve. A dog absolutely not crying over a dog is pathetic. Your friend loves her cat, that's why she'll be devastated when he dies. She has a bond with him, the same way my friend from work does with his cat who is also my god daughter.

Breathe but bereavement for Reeve meant bereavementAs long as the employee has the time to take and the business has enough staff to cover it would be a compassionate gesture to allow the employee a day off, especially if they are overwrought with grief.  As to a full family death allotment with paid time off, that would be hard to cover staffing for three, five or seven days all depending on the companies policy.

With some families having multiple pets,  say fifteen or more, imagine how much bereavement leave one employee could get away with in a year, many people would be tempted to abuse the policy if it were allowed.

Where I worked they only allowed funeral leave for parents, sibling, child and grandparents. They never listed  spouse but I assumed that would be a given.  The in laws was always no, they have their own family and friends, you’ve no need to go too.... I walked off the job for mom and father in laws, some employers are tough.

I think an employer should be willing (assuming staffing to cover) to allow an employee to take a personal day off if that employee is so emotionally distraught that they are unable to perform their job after the death of their pet.

If the employee has accrued time off with pay then they should be able to use some of that accrued time off.

I've had to put down two of my pets in the last five years and went to work nonetheless. I do not expect everyone else to be able to do that though.