'Duvet Days' not appropriate for all, says Minister

Junior Minister for Mental Health Kathleen Lynch has said that when it comes to 'Duvet Days', we need to differentiate between people who need them - and people who just want extra days off.

Figures from the Small Firms Association show absenteeism costs small businesses over €490m a year.

Other countries have improved on the rate of absenteeism by introducing "Duvet Days" or mental-health days.

However Minister Kathleen Lynch says they should only be given to people who genuinely need them.

She said: "Everyone's had those days, haven't they? I mean, how many times have you woken up and thought: 'God, I'm not certain I can face that'?

"But I must admit that you just do - you get up and you get on with it.

"There is a difference between that sort of 'tired from the night before', maybe it's a miserable day outside, and people that are suffering mild to moderate depression."