In this episode of Hiring to Firing, hosts Tracey Diamond and Emily Schifter explore some of the unconventional forms of leaves of absence that employees are increasingly requesting in today’s workplace. Joined by Kate Puccio, deputy general counsel and vice president of people at EMR USA Metal Recycling, they examine the emerging concepts of “heartbreak leave” for employees navigating romantic breakups and “pawternity leave” for those welcoming or grieving a pet. The conversation covers the legal landscape of existing leave obligations under the FMLA, ADA, and various state and local laws, while tackling the practical challenges employers face when considering these unconventional benefits — from documentation hurdles and abuse prevention to the growing administrative burden of multijurisdictional compliance. Tune in for a lively and insightful discussion on how employers can build empathetic, flexible workplace cultures while keeping their leave policies manageable and legally sound.
Transcript: Heartbreak, Hounds, and HR: Rethinking the Modern Leave Policy (PDF)