Policy would only apply to Iloilo City Hall employees

An ordinance suggesting a stress/burnout leave option for Iloilo City Hall employees recently passed its first reading before the Sangguniang Panlungsod.
“Kung kaisa, may times kasakit sang tiyan naton which we don’t understand why; we have this trangkaso nga wala man kita cold and cough but we don’t feel well; and, of course, secondary to stress, or in the worst case scenario, a burnout (There are many times our stomachs hurt and we don’t know why; we seem to have the flu but we don’t have cold symptoms of a cough, yet we don’t feel well; and, in a worst case scenario, it’s burnout),” explained City Councilor Candice Magdalane Tupas, who penned the legislation. “We should be allowed to take a leave just for a day to two.”
“A lot of us, especially in City Hall, cannot really take on the stress everyday,” she added. “Now, people are aware of the stress that we have in life.”
A US News and World Report article by David Levine cited psychologist Alison Ross, who characterized self-care, which she described as “taking a few moments on a regular basis to check in with oneself, to take stock of how they’re doing emotionally and physically,” as a “critical component of sound mental health.”
“Many people don’t do this in an ongoing way; they just ‘go, go, go’ with regards to their work life and their home life, and this contributes to feelings of unhappiness, resentment, and a sense of hopelessness about being on an endless treadmill they can’t get off of,” she explained.
Ross suggested, taking time for “me time” can include taking a “mental health day” from work.
Additionally, a report by Juliette Steen for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation called mental health days “important for us and for our workplaces.”
She cited organizational psychologist Rachel Clements, who said, “Taking a mental health day when you need it is, firstly, about demonstrating self-awareness, which is a cornerstone of resilience.”
However, unlike the aforementioned city ordinance, the recommendation for securing one’s mental health pertains to the general public and is not exclusive to those employed by the government./WDJ