WOMAN ASKS FOR MENTAL HEALTH DAY OFF...

27 Jul 2017, 12:00 AM

Her boss's response will blow you away

Feeling a little burnt out and wished you could just take a day (or two) off to recuperate? Unfortunately, many of us feel that we have to check our emotions at the office door and keep up with our appearances of being super dedicated, on point and basically a star employee with no issues whatsover.

But let’s face us – even the better of us get a down day, whether it is just feeling the blues or you know, just not in the mood.

Which makes this tweet by Madalyn Parker that’s been making its way round the Internet quite relevant. The web developer and engineer tweeted an exchange between herself and boss Ben Congleton after she emailed him to explain that she needed some time away from the office to take care of herself.

“I’m taking today and tomorrow to focus on my mental health,” Madalyn writes. “Hopefully I’ll be back next week refreshed and back to 100%.”

Her boss’s response? Super cool. Check out the exchange below:

Ben, who wrote in a Medium post, shared why he felt his response as a boss was important: “As executives, we lead organisations made up of people who’ve come together to make an impact. Our job is to empower and motivate our teams to maximise the impact of our organisation for our customers, our employees, our shareholders, and the world.

“It’s 2017. We are in a knowledge economy. Our jobs require us to execuste at peak performance. When an athlete is injured, they sit on the bench and recover. Let’s get rid of the idea that somehow the brain is different.”

Ben is an awesome boss! But the takeaway from this story: You shouldn’t be ashamed if you need a day off to look after yourself. After all, if you’re not 100% at work, it shows in everything you do – which defeats the point of being at work in the first place. That’s what holidays are for... or even just taking leave for a day to enjoy some personal R&R.

You don’t have to tell your boss why you’re taking leave in the first place but be sure to prioritise your mental health and emotional wellbeing. If you need a day off work, especially if you’ve been working so hard, by all means – take one and make the most of it to recharge and rejuvenate. Trust us when we say your boss and colleagues will appreciate a more energised you the next day.

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