A woman said she took a day off work for her mental health, saying she was “too distracted … to be effective at work.”
“Too worried about my work to be effective at self care,” Madalyn Parker, who is a web developer at Olark Live Chat, wrote on Twitter.
USA Today reported that she suffers from anxiety and chronic depression. She then sent an email to her coworkers explaining why she will be absent for two days, according to screenshots.
Ben Congleton, the CEO of the company, thanked her for shedding light on mental health issues.
“Hey Madalyn, I just wanted to personally thank you for sending emails like this. Every time you do, I use it as a reminder of the importance of using sick days for mental health — I can’t believe this is not standard practice at all organizations. You are an example to us all, and help cut through the stigma so we can all bring our whole selves to work.”
Congleton’s response drew praise from many, with some terming it as “refreshing” while starting a “national conversation” on whether employees should take a sick day for their mental health. But some criticized the move, saying it’s a sign of entitlement among the younger generations.
The letter and the viral response from Congleton, according to Bored Panda:
Among the replies to her email was one from Congleton, the CEO of Olark, a life-chat software developer.
From The Epoch Times
