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Pets have always played an important role in people’s lives, but many companies are still hesitant to offer them. associated benefits.

In the first year of the pandemic, 23 million households, or one in five people in the United States, adopted a petaccording to the ASPCA. And although 76% of employers do not offer pet insurancewhich covers medical, surgical, hospitalization and other costs, approximately 22% of the HR professionals have received requests for pet insurance from workers, according to a recent survey conducted by research firm KRC for PetPartners, an insurance company.

Worker pet benefits can go beyond traditional pet insurance. Employees are also looking for additional free time to care for their furry friends. About 64% of pet owners said that providing paid leave in case of a pet-related emergency would influence their decision to choose one employer over another. And about 57% report using their own sick or PTO days to care for their pets.

Providing assistance with pet boarding when employees or traveling, or a flexible schedule to allow people to find accommodation for their four-legged friends, could also go very far. A significant number of pet owners (62%) say pet care and associated expenses influenced their decision to take time off. And when it comes to a new puppy (or kitten, or hedgehog, etc.), 67% are interested in time off to care for the newcomer.

Some employees are even willing to go so far as to say they would prefer pet benefits over traditional benefits. For example, 71% of pet owners would choose a pet-friendly office over an on-site playroom. Additionally, most said they would prefer pet insurance over health and wellness programs, on-site pet care over a fitness center, and complementary kibble over office snacks. , according to the study.

While it may sound ridiculous, I know how much dog food costs — and I’d give up office snacks in a heartbeat if it meant free meals for my rescue pup Massimo.

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This story was originally featured on Fortune.com