Sick leave for mental health

This article is by RoSPA and is reproduced courtesy of Safety Groups UK.

QUESTION

Can employees call in sick for poor mental health?

ANSWER

Can employees legally take sick days if they are feeling overwhelmed by stress, anxiety or depression? Yes they can, because a mental health issue can have the same effects as a physical illness in meaning that someone is not fit for work.

A mental health issue can be just as damaging — and can often have longer-lasting effects — than a physical ailment. That’s why 12.8 million working days were lost in 2019 due to stress, depression or anxiety.

That said, anyone off for a period of seven days or more will still need to provide a fit note from their GP/nurse/occupational therapist/pharmacist/physiotherapist.

It is also worth noting that your employees are probably already taking mental health days, they’re just disguising them as something else. Research from AXA PPP Healthcare showed that while 77% of employees would be truthful about physical sickness or injury, such as flu or back pain, only 39% would tell the truth if they had to call in sick due to stress, anxiety or depression.

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This article by RoSPA is reproduced courtesy of Safety Groups UK.

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Dislaimer

This article is for informational/educational purposes only. Nothing in the material provided constitutes legal or professional advice. NI Safety Group (and RoSPA) do not accept any liability whatsoever for the contents, usage or onward transmission including any loss or damage howsoever arising out of the use or reliance on its contents. In providing this information NI Safety Group  (and RoSPA) are not acting in an advisory capacity or as a health and safety consultants and it remains your responsibility to ensure that you are meeting your legal obligations.

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