The stigma and feeling of shame we have about being heartbroken and our resistance to taking leave because of it seems to parallel our attitudes towards mental health. Recent research by Vitality reveals that 62% of people have never taken a day off work for their mental health. The most commonly cited reasons are the fear of being judged and the belief that their employer wouldn’t understand – the exact same reasons we avoid taking time off work over heartbreak.

It’s vital that we start acknowledging our individual mental and emotional needs, particularly during emotionally challenging times like breakups. For some people, work can be a positive distraction from the difficult feelings, memories and changes that come with heartbreak. Others may need time away to emotionally recover from the breakup’s impact. Either way, you shouldn’t feel ashamed or guilty or weak.

For those really struggling, Jade recommends taking things step by step. “Start by ensuring you’re meeting your basic physiological needs: food, water, warmth, rest. If these needs aren’t met, it makes any type of emotional recovery ten times harder,” she says. “Then, you can start nurturing other areas of your life such as friendships, family, work and hobbies.”

Moreover, it’s on employers to be empathetic and as accommodating as possible when dealing with a heartbroken employee. Some might simply want a day off to gather their thoughts or to work from home for a short while. For others, their heartbreak may lead to reactive depression and an extended period of leave. Good employers recognise that their employees are human beings with lives outside work. And organisations with healthy company cultures acknowledge our needs and create an environment where we can speak up about them without fear or shame.

Should we be granted heartbreak leave from work?