The Zebra offers staff $300 to spend on new pets

Something for the weekend: US insurance comparison site The Zebra is offering its employees up to $300 (£228) to spend on their new pets.

The generous benefit is an attempt to financially help employees welcome their new furry (or scaley) friends into their home in style. This gives the 'new parents' more time to worry about bonding with the new addition to their family and less time to worry about the growing bill for food, toys and grooming tools.

This pawfect payment is on top of the annual holiday entitlements that employees are encouraged to take off for 'pawternity' leave.

Dog lover and CEO Keith Melnick, at The Zebra, said: “There was a time a while ago when I took my labrador, Zuma (pictured left) with me on the train into my office daily. I know this kind of companionship can make a huge difference in quality of life and mental health. Especially now that we’re all working remotely for the foreseeable future, I want to make sure that anyone at The Zebra who wants to, can experience that.

Here at Employee Benefits, we hope that the $300 payment is enough to help employees' new pets live a luxurious lifestyle for years to come.