Mental Health Days

I was participating as a panelist in an ICMA coaching webinar recently, and the question was related to Mental Health Days. I answered “What do you think about physical health days?” The usual answer is - we don’t, or minimally that we don’t think to distinguish a “sick” day from the physical. I have written about this before - but we need to normalize a mental health day. No, not the trip to the beach because you needed it, nor the shopping excursion because “that’s your therapy” - but a true, needed, day off for your emotional/mental health to improve your wellbeing. If I am a council or board, I want to 1) provide accruals for your appropriate use as an employee benefit and 2) see you at your best self.