Employees want companies to offer pet insurance benefit
By

Many people adopted furry friends during the pandemic. And while they bring needed companionship, pets also bring high medical bills. The solution to this problem … pet insurance benefits.
Forty-five percent of pet owners will spend the same amount or more on their animal’s health care than their own, according to a survey conducted by financial firm Lendedu.
On average, caring for a healthy pet can cost between $700 and $2,000 a year. If the pet has any health issues, that cost increases exponentially.
While more employers have started offering pet insurance since the pandemic started as a benefit for their employees, it’s still only a small portion. But it’s a perk still in high demand.
4 reasons to offer pet insurance
Pet insurance can cover anything from wellness exams to shots to care for chronic conditions.
Here are four compelling reasons for employers to consider providing pet insurance benefits:
1. Helps employees focus at work. Workers would be much less stressed if they weren’t worrying about the financial burden of pet care, meaning they’d be able to focus more on their jobs. And stress-free, happy employees stick around.
2. Encourages pet ownership. Anyone on the fence about adopting a furry friend would be encouraged to do so if you offered pet insurance as a benefit. And people with pets tend to have less anxiety and lower blood pressure.
3. Shows the company cares. This benefit shows your people you care and want them to have fulfilling home lives as well as work lives.
4. Gives you a competitive edge. Offering such a unique, coveted benefit will give you that extra edge when recruiting. If a candidate is torn between two offers, it could be the deciding factor.
Further Reading
Washington Paid Leave Premium Increases Jan. 1
On Jan. 1, 2027, Washington’s Paid Family & Medical Leave premium increases to 1.2%, from 1.13%. Employers will pay 29.3% of the paid leave premium; the employee share is 70.7%. Employers may cover some or all of employees’ share. Generally, employers with fewer than 50 employees don’t need to pay the employer share unless they […]
Year-End Fringe Benefits: Check Payroll’s Accounting Cutoff
With year-end approaching, payroll teams should review whether the IRS’s optional special accounting rule makes sense for certain taxable noncash fringe benefits. The rule lets employers treat benefits provided during November and December (or a shorter period within those months) as paid in the following year. For example, personal use of a company vehicle in […]
Handy Open Enrollment Jargon Cheat Sheet for You
Open enrollment can be a hectic time of year for HR pros and the employees you help. Add open enrollment jargon to the mix, and you can ensure confusion will flourish. Clarifying Open Enrollment Jargon So we’re equipping our readers — and your employees — with a handy jargon cheat sheet to get through benefits […]
Massachusetts Changes PFML Contribution Allocation for 2027
Massachusetts recently updated its paid family and medical leave contribution guidance after passing Chapter 101 of the Acts of 2026. The changes take effect Jan. 1, 2027. The law shifts employer contributions from medical leave to family leave to mitigate the impact of IRS guidance on PFML benefit taxation. Employers with 25 or more covered […]
Make a Bigger Impact with Your Benefits with the Right Choices | 2-Minute Video
Choosing benefits isn’t a check-the-box activity for employees anymore. Employees want — and need — benefits that fit their lives. Notice, we didn’t say they need more. They need the right benefits so they can use them and manage them to the fullest. What’s Up in This Episode: Right-Fit Benefits That’s why, in this episode […]
Why Employees Struggle With Open Enrollment and 6 Ways to Help
As open enrollment season looms, HR departments will want to prepare to help employees before it even starts. They’ll have questions, and you want to give them the information they need to make the best decisions about their benefits. Employees have confidence in you to answer questions and take care of them: Two-thirds of employees […]