Mental Health Day off Work?

[ForTheLoveofDisney]

If you honestly need a mental health day (you're especially stressed, the day starts off with a lot of anxiety, you're particularly depressed that day, etc), then call out sick. Mental health is just as important as physical health, and if you're sick, you're sick, it doesn't matter if it's because of depression or a stomach bug.

AMEN! AMEN! AMEN! And again I say AMEN!! I am so tired of the general public NOT recognizing mental health to be JUST as important as physical health!! If there was ever a cause I feel strongly about, it is this one!!

Just the other day, my supervisor felt the need to come into my office to vent to me about a colleague of ours who has proudly taken sick days for mental health days! My supervisor was so annoyed about the very thought of this that she felt the need to come in to me and vent about it! Now, my supervisor is not our colleagues supervisor so she has no say over her but she was "Appalled" that she would admit to calling out sick when she wasn't really sick. She went on to say that sick days should only be used if you're sick, i.e. with the stomach flu or something physical. She then added that if she ever woke up one morning and just felt too stressed to come in, too overwhelmed and felt that she needed a day to herself, she would call in and honestly say she wasn't able to come in due to stress but "I would NEVER use a sick day! I would take a personal day"

Unfortunately, I didn't really give my opinion, only to say that mental health is important because the stresses that we undergo from our mind too often cause other physiological reactions in our bodies such as releasing harmful toxins into our blood stream which will affect our heart and blood pressure and has been shown to lead to early onset of dimentia etc. But, I didn't get on my soap box with my supervisor about me also having no qualms with taking a sick day for mental health. Seeing as she's the one who approves my time and seeing how strongly she feels about only using sick time for physical illness, I thought best to not even go there since she has all the power over me.

 

[PrincessKsMom]

I think there's a huge difference between a "mental health day" and a "mental health day". For those that don't have mental health issues an occasional mental health day is more just to do something good for yourself and rejuvenate. For those with mental health issues, it's still a mental health day but it's an actual illness. I would guess most people who take a mental health day are like me and just slacking off for the day. Unfortunately, since people reference both the same way, employers don't really know who is and isn't ill. Clear as mud right? Makes perfect since in my head.

 

[Planogirl]

Our company places available time on the calendar and once that's gone you aren't allowed to take off. Because we've been short-handed there has been no available time for several months now. People call in sick lately when they need to be out because there's no other way to get a day off. I've done it and will again.

 

[ForTheLoveofDisney]

IMO, it's not the right thing to do....unless your employer has such days to use.

Most people have 'vacation' and that should cover the 'mental health' time that people need.

I'm just curious (this is not an attack but genuine curiosity) why do you feel that vacation time should cover mental health? Is mental health not as important as say a stomach flu or upper respitory infection or migraine or gall bladder attack? And if it is as important as physical health, wouldn't a sick day, a day my employer does provide to use, be the appropriate day to take?

Thanks!

 

[FireDancer]

A lot of companies have just gone to 'Paid time off" vs "vacation time" "sick leave" so people can just take time off when they want vs having to justify the time off. It makes a lot more sense to do that, I think.

This is what we have here and I love it. Having PTO makes it so much easier to take a couple of Friday's and/or Monday's off to have long weekends throughout the year instead of being forced to take vacation in 5 or 7 day chunks. Bank holidays are paid and don't count towards our PTO. We can also roll a large amount of time over from year to year which means you can save up a lot of accumulated PTO. It makes the two week trips to Europe every couple of years much easier to plan.

I've worked for companies that are stingy with time off or strict about how and when you can take it and I prefer my current employers open policy much better. It also helps that I am close friends with most of my colleagues outside of work so we are very good at coordinating time so we can take time off and still be covered. I don't have to worry about getting calls or emails when I am not at work. I don't even check my work email when I am on vacation. If you are still tethered to work it isn't really a vacation IMO.

 

[ICF]

I'm just curious (this is not an attack but genuine curiosity) why do you feel that vacation time should cover mental health? Is mental health not as important as say a stomach flu or upper respitory infection or migraine or gall bladder attack? And if it is as important as physical health, wouldn't a sick day, a day my employer does provide to use, be the appropriate day to take?

Thanks!

IMO, vacation days are for you to get away from work...be it for a day or a week and recharge and take a 'mental' as well as physical day away from work.

Sick days are for when you or a family memeber is actually sick.

 

[Planogirl]

IMO, vacation days are for you to get away from work...be it for a day or a week and recharge and take a 'mental' as well as physical day away from work.

Sick days are for when you or a family memeber is actually sick.

What if you're not allowed to use vacation for several months and you get so stressed out that you can't see straight?

 

[Pakey]

I hate when anyone on my staff calls in and tells me they are taking a mental health day. We have sick and vacation; you can use either one. If you are going to take an unscheduled day off, just call it a sick day. To me, a mental health day is a vacation day and as such, I feel I should get at least one day's notice that you aren't going to show up. Unless you are going to miss 3 days in a row, I'm not going to ask for a doctor's note so just tell me you are sick and leave it at that.

 

[CaliforniaDreamin]

I think there's a huge difference between a "mental health day" and a "mental health day". For those that don't have mental health issues an occasional mental health day is more just to do something good for yourself and rejuvenate. For those with mental health issues, it's still a mental health day but it's an actual illness. I would guess most people who take a mental health day are like me and just slacking off for the day. Unfortunately, since people reference both the same way, employers don't really know who is and isn't ill. Clear as mud right? Makes perfect since in my head.

I understood what you were saying from the first sentence on. When I had a job, I called in sick for mental illness issues. I have never used the term mental health day, but I don't see anything wrong with using it as long as people are aware of the difference, esp bosses. Everyone deserves a day once in a while to take off and rejuvenate, and sometimes you need those days after a very bad day at work the previous day, or you had a fight at home and just want to stay at home and watch tv all day uninterupted (in other words, short notice). Those are mental health days. Having the ability to come in to work, but the benefit of taking one day off to let your mind rest and relax outweighs coming in. I don't know how to define it.
Mental illnesses, such as Depression, BiPolar, GAD etc, etc, etc, should fall under the heading of sick time. It's very hard to define honestly. And hard to define in a way that would prevent abuse by employees, and yet clearly separate those who have legitimate mental illnesses where a day off here and there won't cure you.
This has always been a huge problem for those who suffer with the mental illness. You don't always look sick. Or it can be easily faked by others. Or people think you are lazy, or feeling sorry for yourself. Sigh. I'm just rambling.

 

[bigbabyblues]

I always refer to mental health days as "attitude adjustment days". As in, if I don't get a break from this place, I'm going to choke someone.

We also have paid time off, however many hours we want to take at a time.

 

[C.Ann]

Stress kills people - literally.. If you have the time to use, by all means, use it..

In a few of the places I worked, there was nothing like that in place - but at the time I was dealing with my late DH's cancer and if I'd had a particularly bad night with him the night before or whatever, I just called in and took the day off without pay..

 

[Pigeon]

We have sick time and vacation time.

Unless you've got a specific mental illness, taking a "mental health day" is a cheesy excuse for slacking. I don't do it, my husband doesn't do it, and my kids certainly aren't allowed to do it.

If I need a day off, that's what vacation days are for.

 

[J3nn78]

I use 2-3 sick days every year for mental health days. There are plenty of times when life just gets a bit overwhelming and having the time off for me to recharge and regroup is just what I need in order to go back to work the next day refreshed.

 

[PrincessKsMom]

We have sick time and vacation time.

Unless you've got a specific mental illness, taking a "mental health day" is a cheesy excuse for slacking. I don't do it, my husband doesn't do it, and my kids certainly aren't allowed to do it.

If I need a day off, that's what vacation days are for.

And herein lies the issue: those who have vacation/sick time and those who have PTO (paid time off). My company went from the first to the second. It was specifically stated that once we went to PTO it was our time to take, without explanation and designation. We went from 20 vacation days, 9 sick days and 3 personal days (32 days total) to 28 days total. However, when you were using sick days in the old system, you would get called in to be spoken to about excessive use after the first 5 days, then after 7 and again at 9, which could affect your raise. Since going to PTO, you are allowed/entitled/encouraged to take all 28 days. No need to lie, hide, make excuses -- it's my time and I'm taking it. Now it goes without saying I schedule my time whenever possible. There are usually only one or two times a year I call in an unscheduled day.

 

[ICF]

We have sick time and vacation time.

Unless you've got a specific mental illness, taking a "mental health day" is a cheesy excuse for slacking. I don't do it, my husband doesn't do it, and my kids certainly aren't allowed to do it.

If I need a day off, that's what vacation days are for.

I agree

 

[LovableGluttons]

I have PTO as well.

When I heard my colleague use the "Mental Health Day" reasoning, I immediately got the impression she just needed a day away from the stress of our profession before it made her physically ill.

As fate would have it, I started losing my voice today. I speak to patient and healthcare staff all day, that's my job! So now I'm trying not to speak at all to rest my poor vocal cords for tomorrow.

Yikes!

 

[mousermerf]

We have a sick allowance and then vacation we have to accrue and request in advance.

Yesterday I went in, was there for a little while , had a big crapfest that was above my paygrade and about 10 other people's responsibility tossed into my lap because I was the most convenient victim.

I was going to choke someone.

I went to my manager, said i should have called out as i wasn't feeling well but thought I could make it, and so i was going home, so sorry, charge me for the sick time.

Peace out! And wonder of wonders, people did their own jobs while I was out and everyone was so worried if i felt better the next day, as i'm such a hard worker, i must be working myself to the bone.. i should take better care of myself and relax some..

Ha!

 

[OK!]

We have PTO (personal days) and sick time as well as vacation time. I've never used either of the former, though, as I work from home so I already kind of feel like I have the day at least partially off since I don't have to get dressed and trudge into an office.

That said, I can feel the need for a mental health day building. It has been for several weeks but I hate the thought of sticking somebody else with my work, so I keep putting it off. However, it's gonna happen sooner rather than later so I don't end up choking the next person who rings my doorbell.

 

[ForTheLoveofDisney]

I understood what you were saying from the first sentence on. When I had a job, I called in sick for mental illness issues. I have never used the term mental health day, but I don't see anything wrong with using it as long as people are aware of the difference, esp bosses. Everyone deserves a day once in a while to take off and rejuvenate, and sometimes you need those days after a very bad day at work the previous day, or you had a fight at home and just want to stay at home and watch tv all day uninterupted (in other words, short notice). Those are mental health days. Having the ability to come in to work, but the benefit of taking one day off to let your mind rest and relax outweighs coming in. I don't know how to define it.
Mental illnesses, such as Depression, BiPolar, GAD etc, etc, etc, should fall under the heading of sick time. It's very hard to define honestly. And hard to define in a way that would prevent abuse by employees, and yet clearly separate those who have legitimate mental illnesses where a day off here and there won't cure you.
This has always been a huge problem for those who suffer with the mental illness. You don't always look sick. Or it can be easily faked by others. Or people think you are lazy, or feeling sorry for yourself. Sigh. I'm just rambling.

The thing is, a "mental health" sick day shouldn't have to be used only by people with a diagnosed, defined mental illness just like you can take a sick day for a stomach illness without being diagnosed or defined with stomach cancer or something as seriously wrong.

(I don't believe that you're saying we can't take mental health days, CaliforniaDreamin. I think we both agree that mental health is important, but I'm just using your post, that you stated much better than I could, to make my point that mental health is just as important as physical health)

Stress kills people - literally.. If you have the time to use, by all means, use it..

In a few of the places I worked, there was nothing like that in place - but at the time I was dealing with my late DH's cancer and if I'd had a particularly bad night with him the night before or whatever, I just called in and took the day off without pay..

So true. And that's the thing, mental health is tied to physical health and when you are in a bad situation mentally it sets in motion physiological reactions and that's how stress truly kills. What is sad, is the folks who refuse to see this is true and somehow try and say taking a day for yourself equates to you goofing off, like you're somehow stealing from your employer when you take a sick day that you earned. We aren't machines and just like a bug can give us a fever or sore throat or upset stomach where you just need to rest to get over it, you can get too overloaded, too overwhelmed from a situation that just requires you to take a day to rest and focus on yourself and get over it.

 

[Disney Doll]

I have no problem with anyone taking a mental health day. If one's company is such that they wway they administer their sick & vacation time is separate, then sick time it is.