Emma McNulty, 18, lost her part-time job at a sandwich shop after telling her manager that she was too upset to come in for her shift.

Over 10,000 people have now signed the Glasgow student’s online petition for employers to be forced to “give people the time they need to grieve”.

There is no statutory bereavement leave in Britain, but employees are allowed a “reasonable” amount of unpaid time off under the Employment Rights Act to deal with an emergency involving a dependant – but not a pet.

A new law providing for a workplace right to paid leave for bereaved parents is due to come into force next year.