Tom Blomfield, the founder of the British online bank Monzo, stepped down from his position and left the company in 2021 because of the mounting anxiety and stress he experienced while running the business during the pandemic. The bank responded to this development in a remarkable way.

To protect the mental and overall health of its 2,100 employees, the online bank, which already offers a one-month unpaid sabbatical per year, has decided to allow staff who have been in their roles for at least four years to take three months of paid leave.

The initiative is designed to be both flexible and inclusive, letting employees take their three months off in one chunk, or one month at a time. Workers are also able to take advantage of this perk regardless of their personal circumstances and for whatever reason they please, whether they wish to spend more time with family, focus on personal development, travel, or what have you, all without having to worry about job security or financial impact.

On top of prioritizing its workers’ health, the policy is also meant to attract and retain talent, which is especially difficult during this time of instability and uncertainty. The bank also took employee feedback and ideas seriously while developing this initiative.

“We’re always looking to introduce best-in-class policies for our employees,” says Tara Ryan, the people experience director at Monzo.

“Our people are essential to our mission of making money work for everyone, and investing in them is a priority as we continue to grow,” she adds. “Our aim is to not only reinvent banking for customers through a stand-out product and experience, but to shake-up and vastly improve the experience for employees working within it.”

This is just another example of how mental health and recognizing workers’ humanity has finally started taking center stage in many employment experiences.