Boss's response to employee's email about taking a mental health day is winning the internet

Many organizations and people have recognized the importance of taking care of one's mental health. This sometimes involves taking mental health days to feel better and address any concerns one might have. Some people have taken to talking openly about their mental health concerns in order to reduce the stigma associated with the same. In one such case, a boss's reply to an email from an employee taking a mental health day is winning the internet. The employee, Madalyn Parker–who goes by @madalynrose on X–took to the platform to share the exchange between her and her boss.

Parker captioned the post, "When the CEO responds to your out-of-office email about taking sick leave for mental health and reaffirms your decision." The email read, "Hey team, I am taking today and tomorrow to focus on my mental health. Hopefully, I'll be back by next week, refreshed and back to 100%." Her boss, Ben Congleton, wrote a thoughtful reply to the email and thanked Parker for talking about mental health openly and freely. "Hey, Madalyn, I just wanted to personally thank you for sending out emails like this," the response began.

"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 a standard practice at all organizations," the boss wrote. "You are an example to us all and help cut through the stigma so we can all bring our whole selves to work." The post received over 37k likes on the platform. People took to the comments to applaud the response and ask whether any vacancy was available at the company. Parker responded that there were no jobs at that moment, but she would update people if they were hiring. She shared, "I'm specific to be an example so my team knows that they can feel comfortable taking sick leave for mental health, even if they don't say it."

@Funkopedia asked, "Are y'all hiring?" @Joyce1913 expressed, "Call me crazy, no pun intended, but I don't feel like they need to know WHY I'm taking off. It's my time and I use it for what I need it for..." @_MsRoboto wrote, "This is great! I once called in to take a mental health day... My boss told me the anxiety isn't a real illness and that I needed a doctor's note." @ohkathleenelise shared, "This is awesome, but I get such few sick days. I don’t feel I can afford to take them for mental health- even if I’m having a bipolar episode." 

@sean72330680855 pointed out, "Sounds like you have a great workplace and a great boss. That said, I’m self-employed, and this is not an option for me. I have to adapt, and figure out other ways to deal with my mental health. I’m not complaining, I love what I do and it is what it is." The boss, Congleton, eventually came to know about the reaction his email got on X and he was glad to have had such a positive impact on people.

"It is incredibly hard to be honest about mental health in the typical workplace. In situations like this, it is so easy to tell your teammates you are 'not feeling well.' Even in the safest environment, it is still uncommon to be direct with your coworkers about mental health issues. I wanted to call this out and express gratitude for Madalyn's bravery in helping us normalize mental health as a normal health issue," Congleton wrote in a LinkedIn post.