AUSTIN, Texas - August 10, 2020 - The Zebra, the nation’s leading insurance comparison site, has added a new employee benefit: covering expenses up to $300 annually for employees welcoming a new cat or dog into their family. To the company’s knowledge, this is the first policy of its kind to be offered by an employer. In addition to the stipend, employees are encouraged to use The Zebra’s paid time off policy to get acquainted with their new pet, sometimes known as “pawternity” leave.

“There was a time a while ago when I took my Labrador, Zuma, 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,” says Keith Melnick, CEO of The Zebra. 

Maribeliz Ortiz, Agency Quality Assurance Coordinator at The Zebra, recently used the benefit to welcome Niko, a miniature long haired dachshund and her “dream dog” since childhood. “I’m not ready to have a child any time soon,” says the 27 year old. “But it feels really nice to be supported by my company to help start a family in the way I can right now.” 

Dan Kujanek, Senior Manager, Performance Marketing at The Zebra, adopted his dog Ripley right after his move to Austin from New York in 2017. He and his wife had always planned on adopting a second dog. Their recent move to a new home with a spacious yard, coupled with COVID-19’s stay-at-home directive ended up being the perfect time to use the benefit to rescue Romy, a shepherd mix, from Austin’s AjK Family Rescue. 

The Zebra’s extensive employee benefits include 20 weeks of fully paid parental leave for the primary caregiver (16 weeks of fully paid parental leave for the secondary caregiver) in birth or adoption of a child with flexible reentry to work, $100 monthly wellness perk, summer Friday release at 2:00 p.m., unlimited paid time off, flexible work from home options, weekly catered lunches, an in-house barista, standing desks, fully stocked snack and drink pantries, subsidized parking at the East Austin office and more.

Maribeliz Ortiz and Niko

Romy Kujanek

Zuma and Dixie Melnick

About The Zebra

The Zebra is the nation's leading, independent insurance comparison site. With its dynamic, real-time quote comparison tool, drivers can identify insurance companies with the coverage, service level, and pricing to suit their unique needs. The Zebra compares more than 100 insurance companies and provides agent support and educational resources to ensure drivers are equipped to make the most informed decisions about their home and auto insurance. Headquartered in Austin, Texas, The Zebra has sought to bring transparency and simplicity to insurance shopping since 2012 — it's "insurance in black and white."

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