‘Unhappy leave’ is a real thing. But here’s why it’s not enough

A Chinese company is offering up to 10 days of leave for employees feeling unhappy. But mental health days don’t always address the root problem.

The idea of a “mental health day” started off as an informal concept. People would talk about taking a day of their sick leave to rest or recharge after a particularly stressful period of work. More recently, many more workplaces are offering official wellness days. My own employer, The University of Texas, offers up to eight hours of wellness time a year for full-time employees. A recent story highlighted a Chinese supermarket chain that is offering up to 10 days of leave per year for employees feeling unhappy.