Adulthood can mean different things for different people—and for different generations. As millennials and Gen Z have grown older, cultural practices around the pillars of grown-up living—child rearing, home buying and pet ownership—have changed to suit their influence and tastes.
As a cohort, millennials and Gen Z tend to see their pets more like human kids than companion animals than previous generations. Many researchers suggest that pets are seen as something more like “starter children” to younger generations, and many adopt pets in lieu of having kids. How does that change the way that pets are seen in the broader culture, and what does that mean for families, employers and pet parents themselves?
Go-anywhere companions
The adulthood journey of first millennials and now Gen Z pet owners has led to the growing popularity of pet-friendly accommodations, from bars and cafes to parks, beaches and office suites. While all generations see their pets as family, more young people tend to see pets as “go-anywhere companions” than their parents’ cohorts. The recent emergence of the “pet-friendly” workplace, where dogs are welcome or even encouraged as part of the company culture, is a product of this changing outlook on pet ownership.
Part of that growing pet connection comes down to new trends in the workplace. In a professional setting, younger people are more likely to pursue remote work roles, go freelance or pursue gig economy jobs, many of which allow for greater flexibility and interaction with their pets throughout the day.
Loving support through life's ups and downs
Why is this focus on the human-pet connection so strong among younger generations? A lot has happened in recent years to change the way people interact with one another and the world around them. During difficult times, pet owners lean on their pets for support, and studies show that younger generations do so at accelerated rates.
A recent workplace survey conducted by Nationwide® found that pets are seen by younger workers in particular as a comforting presence throughout the workday, rather than just a companion for off-the-clock hours.
The increase in positive sentiment toward pets is especially pronounced in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, which caused major shifts in both mental health awareness and pet ownership rates.
Young people who see their pets as emotionally supportive are less willing to part with them for long stretches of time, especially when the pet expresses anxiety about being left alone—a concern that is especially prevalent among pandemic pets, who are accustomed to their humans always being home.
Those dogs, cats and exotic pets aren’t the only ones feeling stressed out by their human companion’s absence—the younger cohort of people surveyed also reported their own unease when separated from their pet.
Compared to Gen Xers and older, Gen Z and Millennial pet owners are more likely to report feeling sadness about leaving a pet to go to work, not to mention increased anxiety about what may happen while they're gone. Younger cohorts also report a desire to bring pets to public places at a 27% higher rate.
Older adults, while also valuing the companionship of pets, might see them more as loyal friends or family members rather than supportive companion animals.
How pet insurance can make an impact
Many pet parents will spare no expense when their pet's health is on the line, even taking on a significant financial burden to do so. At a time when pet care inflation is on the rise, unexpected veterinary bills can mean the difference between having comfortable savings in the bank and maxing out a credit card debt to cover costs.
It comes as no surprise that pet insurance is growing in popularity as a result. Nationwide pet insurance members get reimbursement for their eligible veterinary expenses, so they can manage the cost of their pets’ medical care while reducing the impact of financial stress. In addition, many competitive employers are adding pet insurance to their voluntary benefits package to help support their pet-loving workers, and to attract and engage top talent along the way.
Check if your company offers employee-exclusive pet insurance plans at PetsNationwide.com.
Add-a-pet
Take advantage of your multi-pet discount when you add a pet to your policy. When covering two or three pets, you can receive a 5% discount. When covering four or more pets, you'll save 10% on your base premium. Visit the member portal to add a pet.
Enroll a new petAdd-a-pet
Take advantage of your multi-pet discount when you add a pet to your policy. When covering two or three pets, you can receive a 5% discount. When covering four or more pets, you'll save 10% on your base premium. Visit the member portal to add a pet.
Enroll a new petAdd-a-pet
Take advantage of your multi-pet discount when you add a pet to your policy. When covering two or three pets, you can receive a 5% discount. When covering four or more pets, you'll save 10% on your base premium. Visit the member portal to add a pet.
Enroll a new petAdd-a-pet
Take advantage of your multi-pet discount when you add a pet to your policy. When covering two or three pets, you can receive a 5% discount. When covering four or more pets, you'll save 10% on your base premium. Visit the member portal to add a pet.
Enroll a new petAdd-a-pet
Take advantage of your multi-pet discount when you add a pet to your policy. When covering two or three pets, you can receive a 5% discount. When covering four or more pets, you'll save 10% on your base premium. Visit the member portal to add a pet.
Enroll a new petAdd-a-pet
Take advantage of your multi-pet discount when you add a pet to your policy. When covering two or three pets, you can receive a 5% discount. When covering four or more pets, you'll save 10% on your base premium. Visit the member portal to add a pet.
Enroll a new petAdd-a-pet
Take advantage of your multi-pet discount when you add a pet to your policy. When covering two or three pets, you can receive a 5% discount. When covering four or more pets, you'll save 10% on your base premium. Visit the member portal to add a pet.
Enroll a new petAdd-a-pet
Take advantage of your multi-pet discount when you add a pet to your policy. When covering two or three pets, you can receive a 5% discount. When covering four or more pets, you'll save 10% on your base premium. Visit the member portal to add a pet.
Enroll a new petAdd-a-pet
Take advantage of your multi-pet discount when you add a pet to your policy. When covering two or three pets, you can receive a 5% discount. When covering four or more pets, you'll save 10% on your base premium. Visit the member portal to add a pet.
Enroll a new petAdd-a-pet
Take advantage of your multi-pet discount when you add a pet to your policy. When covering two or three pets, you can receive a 5% discount. When covering four or more pets, you'll save 10% on your base premium. Visit the member portal to add a pet.
Enroll a new petAdd-a-pet
Take advantage of your multi-pet discount when you add a pet to your policy. When covering two or three pets, you can receive a 5% discount. When covering four or more pets, you'll save 10% on your base premium. Visit the member portal to add a pet.
Enroll a new petAdd-a-pet
Take advantage of your multi-pet discount when you add a pet to your policy. When covering two or three pets, you can receive a 5% discount. When covering four or more pets, you'll save 10% on your base premium. Visit the member portal to add a pet.
Enroll a new petAdd-a-pet
Take advantage of your multi-pet discount when you add a pet to your policy. When covering two or three pets, you can receive a 5% discount. When covering four or more pets, you'll save 10% on your base premium. Visit the member portal to add a pet.
Enroll a new pet