More Workers Take Mental Health Leave, and Bosses Aren't Happy
A growing number of US workers are using the Family and Medical Leave Act to take time off for mental health reasons, a trend that is causing frustration among employers who struggle to manage absences and maintain productivity.
Background
- The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) is a US federal law that gives workers up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave per year for serious health conditions — and since 2020, more employees are using it for mental health reasons like anxiety, depression, and burnout.
- This trend accelerated after the pandemic, when workplace stress spiked and therapy/treatment became more accessible via telehealth. FMLA claims for mental health have doubled or tripled at many large employers.
- Employers are pushing back because FMLA leave is unpredictable, hard to verify (mental health is harder to "prove" than a broken leg), and disrupts schedules. Some companies are now contesting claims, requiring more documentation, or pressuring employees to take less leave.
- The tension is part of a broader culture war in US workplaces: the post-2020 push for "mental health awareness" vs. traditional productivity expectations. This article reports that bosses feel workers are abusing the system, while employees and advocates argue the system is finally meeting a real, long-ignored need.