'Mental health is important': Meesho announces 11-day break for employees

Internet commerce company Meesho has announced an 11-day companywide break around October-end for its employees to "reset and recharge," the initiative happening for the second year in a row.

A release posted on its website said it "will allow employees to completely unplug from work and prioritize their mental well-being after the busy festive sale period."

Meesho said the initiative is the first by any startup in India. The 11-day break this year happens around the time of Diwali.


Founder and CTO Sanjeev Barnwal also made the announcement in a post on Twitter saying it was in keeping with the significance of work-life balance.

On Twitter, employees of the company clarified the 11 days are not docked from the PL of the employees.

"Mental Health should be a top priority at companies. Many burn in silence because they have to earn a living, said one of the responses to Barnwal's post.

"Isn't it just 5 days actually considering 4 days are weekends and 2 days are Diwali," asked another.

Others expressed the hope that this would lead to more companies prioritising the work-life balance of their employees.

Meesho said it has in the past introduced other initiatives such as a boundaryless workplace model, infinite wellness leave, 30-week gender-neutral parental leave and 30-day gender reassignment leave.