Mental health leave is moving from informal accommodations to written policy. Employers are adding dedicated days, expanding counseling coverage, and training managers to handle sensitive disclosures without punishing careers.

Workers say the gap is in practice. Some teams still treat mental health time as a sign of weakness, and employees fear being sidelined for promotions. Advocates argue that policy without accountability is marketing.

Health experts say the most effective programs pair time off with better workload design. Leave helps people recover; it cannot fix a workplace that regularly pushes employees to burnout.