This petition is campaigning for a Mental Health Leave policy to be introduced into NZ Law. 

Are New Zealanders Mental Well-being impacted in the workplace?

Yes,

In 2021, Auckland University of Technology conducted a survey of 1000 individuals. The results from this survey found that 11 per cent of individuals were experiencing burnout from the stress that their work has caused them. Burnout causes people to have increased anxiety and depression. According to Professor Jarrod Haar of AUT's business school “There are four signs of burnout: emotional exhaustion, a lack of emotional control, indifference to work and trouble staying focused”. Haar also found that burnout can cause employees to have increased anxiety and depression. Therefore, these conditions of burnout cause the employee to become disengaged from their work, resulting in decreased productivity and difficulty in relationships with co-workers and employers. 

What can we do to improve New Zealander's mental wellbeing?

I think that if we want a healthy, productive workforce in New Zealand we need to introduce into national law, leave that will guarantee people have a break from work for the sole reason to improve their mental wellbeing. This leave would ensure someone is able to improve or receive the right treatment required to manage their mental wellbeing, before returning to work. This would decrease the likelihood of an employee becoming stressed or overworked if they have the opportunity to take leave and look after their mental health.

How would the Mental Health Leave policy look in New Zealand?

If this leave was introduced into NZ Law, it would be titled Mental Health Leave. Removing the word ‘stress’ from the leave title reduces the stigma around Mental Health in the workplace. For example, employees and employers may become more aware of the mental conditions of their fellow workers if they understand that someone has Taken Mental Health Leave. The Mental Health Leave Policy should be based on the same entitlements as the current Sick Leave policy so, most employees in New Zealand will be entitled to 10 days’ Mental Health Leave a year- dependent on the length of time they have worked for their employer and their entitlement date.

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Thank you :)