In Portugal, if an employee needs to take time off work to care for a pet, such absences are not explicitly justified under the current law. Employers may authorize such absences, although they could lead to a loss of salary.
DECO PROTeste explains that Portuguese law “provides several reasons that may be accepted for justified absences.” For instance, an absence to care for children is both “justified and paid.”
However, workers recognized as “non-primary informal caregivers,” who now receive special legal protection, still find that few justifications retain the right to remuneration.
If one must take time off to care for a pet, the law states that a person responsible for “guarding, watching, or attending to a pet, who abandons it, thereby endangering its feeding and necessary care, can be punished with up to six months in prison or a fine of up to 60 days.” Nonetheless, these absences are generally not considered justified, nor are they paid, even if the pet owner is compelled to be absent with no alternative.
Employers might choose to justify the absence, but this can involve forfeiture of pay.
In the event of absence, several outcomes are possible:
- Justified absence without loss of salary: Though not legally outlined, this might result from an agreement between employee and employer.
- Justified absence with loss of pay: Again, not specified by law but could be agreed upon between parties.
- Unjustified absence: Occurs when no agreement is reached, leading to possible salary reduction and/or disciplinary action.
If an absence is necessary, employees should inform their employers as early as possible or as soon as feasibly possible. Strive for a consensus that respects “the interests, rights, and duties of both sides,” understanding “the rules at their workplace.”
Employees might also explore potential services at their veterinary clinic, such as “accompaniment or boarding services,” or consider pet sitter options.
