Mental Health Leave:
Mental Health is trending now, and rightly so. We are more aware and more diligent than ever before. More so, after the Covid-19 pandemic.
If there is any one positive change that came out of the devastating pandemic, it is that people have realized the necessity of emotional well-being. People have started taking care of their mental health.
Mental Health at the workplace:
Mental health is now being taken seriously in the workplace. It is very important to consider one’s mental health because it can have a significant impact on employee productivity, morale and retention.
Employees who struggle with mental health are more likely to experience absenteeism, decreased productivity, and increased accidents. They are also more likely to leave their jobs.
Due to the growing awareness of mental health and well-being in the workplace, various provisions have been made for the employee's well-being, in terms of leave of absence and other perks.
Mental Health Leave in the workplace:
It is the time period when you take a break from work in order to have dedicated time to focus on improving your mental health.
It is important because it allows employees to take the time they need to recover and return to work refreshed and ready to perform.
There are various options for mental health leave. Basically, there are two categories of leave one can take. They are:
Continuous and
Intermittent.
Employees can access mental health leave in various ways. They are:
An employer-provided benefits.
A short-term disability.
Paid Family and Medical Leave.
These are subject to their availability in respective organizations.
Initiatives for mental well-being of employees:
Organizations are increasingly recognizing the importance of the emotional well-being of their employees. To support this, they are providing various types of benefits and provisions for taking leave for mental health.
Some organizations had this before, while some have added this benefit after the Covid-19 pandemic, in 2020.
There are few examples stated below:
For instance, Barclays has a campaign named “This Is Me”, which encourages colleagues to tell their personal stories, changing perceptions of disability, mental health and neurodiversity in the workplace.
Ernst & Young has a “Better You” program, which offers counselling sessions for employees and their family members.
One of the best initiatives, according to me, is provided by Unilever. It has trained “mental health champions”, where staff support their peers by looking for signs of people struggling with mental health.
This creates a very connected and empathetic workplace environment. Through this initiative, Unilever is fostering a culture of mutual care and support.
Mental health leave of absence:
This is a period of time when an employee can take a break from work to recover from a decline in their mental health.
It allows employees to get the time and support they need to replenish their emotional well-being, which can lead to better focus and higher productivity.
Employees can request a mental health leave of absence based on a variety of criteria. However, there should be no foul-play, and proper guidelines must be followed. Involvement of a mental health professional is also required.
This is no longer seen as a cost, but rather considered an investment.
Employees who have their emotional well-being taken care of are less likely to be absent from work and are better able to function at their peak, leading to higher productivity and overall success for the organization.
In Japan, they see a lot of workplace deaths due to “Karoshi”, which means “overwork death”. This example is a sobering reminder of the importance of mental health leave.
Mental Health Leave in India:
There is no specific law in India that mandates mental health leave, but some companies have started offering it to their employees as a benefit, such as Urban Company, Meesho etc.
The Mental Healthcare Act of 2017 does mention mental health leave, however it is not mandatory for companies to offer it.
The Indian government should encourage more mental health initiatives in the workplace and also make it mandatory for the private sector to follow suit.
Sucheta
Disclaimer: I am not an expert or a professional in the field of mental health. This writing is based solely on my experience and observation, and it is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice. If you need help with mental health issues, please contact a qualified professional.
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