A human resource expert suggests that mandatory mental health leave, or stress leave, be incorporated into upcoming revisions of Malaysia’s Employment Act 1955, similar to the provisions for sick leave.
Dinesh Sekhar, managing director of human resource training consultancy Quantum Inno Creat Sdn Bhd (QIC), also emphasised the need for clear guidelines to address workplace harassment or conditions that impact employees’ mental health negatively.
In suggesting mental health changes in today’s workplace, he said mental health comprising psychological feelings of occupational anxiety, depression and stress should be handled positively by both employers and employees.
‘Today’s workplace landscape is past the era where such health issues were once either ignored or swept under the carpet.
‘They must address these once-taboo health matters decisively and effectively,’ he said in a statement lauding Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC) president Mohd Effendy Abdul Ghani’s recent comments seeking additional cha
nges and revisions to the Employment Act to include mental health elements.
In welcoming such suggestions, Dinesh said they were timely coming after the drastic disruptive changes experienced at the workplace post-COVID-19. This is more so with ‘World Mental Health’ being celebrated in October.
Source: BERNAMA News Agency
