PAYROLL PETS
Modern life is incredibly busy. Combining work and home life can be a balancing act, and recently, we’ve all been exposed to considerable uncertainty. Pets can really help our mental well-being and help us find some solace and stability in difficult times. We asked you, the payroll professionals, to show us your pets.
Here are just a few of your wonderful furry and feathered friends...
Name: Evie Sent by: Jenny Delamar MCIPPdip, payroll administrator at Autism Together “Evie was my saviour during the first year of the pandemic. Just her presence would make me feel I wasn’t alone when faced with furlough, Covid-related statutory sick pay, etc. She would sit or sleep near me all day, and although she had no idea what I was doing, she was great at making me take regular breaks. She became my therapy cat. Unfortunately, Evie fell ill last summer, and I had to make the heart-breaking decision to let her go (I have tears in my eyes writing this). Working from home has lost its spark and I miss her every day. Work did suffer for a while, but I grieve in my own time, as employees are priority. I do believe in grievance leave, as there’s unconditional love and a bond that non-pet owners don’t understand. I’m lucky to have had a year with Evie and will never forget her.”
Name: Maiko, Wanda and Pietro (Pietro is pictured) Sent by: Adele Webb, payroll tutor at MBKB Training
“My three rescue cats have been such a tonic throughout the pandemic and the shift to working from home. They’ve brought endless joy and stress-relief, not only to me, but also to colleagues as they appear on our video calls. How can you feel lonely when you have a cat on your keyboard?”
Name: Echo Sent by: Zoe Robbins MCIPPdip, human resources team manager (employee services) at Devon County Council
Name: Sabo and Miska Sent by: Jenny Johns ACIPP, payroll co-ordinator at The New Homes Group Ltd.
“In March 2020, at the start of lockdown, I started working from home with our pomsky, Sabo. He has been amazing company, and a best friend for cuddles. He got me out for walks twice a day, exploring our local area and finding places we never knew existed. We started looking for another dog as a companion for our pomsky. We rescued our black and white husky, Miska, in February 2021, who had already been rehomed four times at the age of just one and was severely neglected. Sabo and Miska instantly hit it off, and I thoroughly enjoy watching them play and get up to mischief. I love working from home with them, as payroll can sometimes be quite solitary, but they’re the perfect teammates and I couldn’t imagine working without them.”
“I was lucky to get my dog, Echo, a few months before lockdown started. He’s made working from home so much better. He loves keeping me company and is great at calming me down when things become a bit stressful during the day. He’s a great motivator to get away from my desk and out for a walk, which is one of the most important ways for me to look after my well-being. I also think he looks pretty good in a headset…”
If you’ve submitted your payroll pet to us and they’re not included, you’ll see them in a future issue of Professional .
| Professional in Payroll, Pensions and Reward | June 2022 | Issue 81 52
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