Statistics from the Mental Health Foundation have indicated that there are at least 8.2 million cases of anxiety annually in the UK alone – and yet, despite the debilitating effects that come hand-in-hand with this mental health condition, fewer and fewer of us are taking time off work when we need to.

Our culture’s emphasis on 100% attendance and presenteeism means that seven out of 10 employees working in private firms – which equates to a not-insignificant 18 million of us – have headed into work despite being unwell.

With so many of us content to go into work with visible (or audible – think of all the coughing and sneezing fits) conditions, though, it makes it even more difficult for those of us with invisible conditions to request a day off from our boss.

However things are changing – as has been made abundantly and beautifully clear by this CEO’s response to an employee after they took some time off for mental health reasons.

Woman receives surprising email from her boss after taking ‘mental health day’