The OP called force majeure, where they will not be punished for not showing up for work”: A pet's illness can be a valid reason for not coming to work. "In the labor law there is no concept of force majeure, this term is used in the civil law. In practice, in labor disputes, force majeure includes objective, emergency and unavoidable situations that actually prevented an employee from coming to work. An accident or a car breakdown can be recognized as force majeure if it actually prevented the employee from coming to work, and this can be confirmed with permits from the traffic police, the transportation companies or the Ministry of Emergency Situations. A pet's illness can be considered a justifiable reason for the employer."