A boss' understanding reaction should set the standard for employer responses to a worker's request for "a mental health day," according to a .
An engineer for a Silicon Valley company messaged her team to let them know that she was taking a day off to "focus on my mental health," expressing optimism that she would return to work feeling "refreshed and back to 100%."
Her boss responded, "I just want to personally thank you for sending emails like this. 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 standard practice at all organizations. You are an example to us all, and help cut through the stigma so we can all bring our whole selves to work."
Following thousands of supportive responses on Twitter and other social media platforms, the boss subsequently wrote an essay on the topic for .