Ukraine Proposes 20-Minute Mental Health Breaks for Employees: Inside the New Bill.

Draft Law No. 15281 Introduces Mandatory Psychological Respite Periods

According to Novyny.live: Lawmaker Serhiy Hryvko has put forward Draft Law No. 15281, which would grant workers up to 20 minutes of paid time off for mental recovery. This break would count as part of the workday, allowing employees to recharge and improve their psychological well-being without losing wages.

How Workers Could Use the Break

During this time, staff would be free to engage in a range of relaxation-focused activities, including:

• meditation
• breathing exercises
• physical movement
• other forms of stress relief

The proposal is part of a broader overhaul of Ukraine's labor laws, which includes a new Labor Code aimed at modernizing the workplace. This code would introduce digitalization, reduce the shadow economy, create new contract types, and implement other significant reforms.

Hryvko emphasizes that 'caring for employees' psycho-emotional state' is a vital component of today's work environment.

If enacted, these mental health breaks could mark a major step forward in improving working conditions across Ukraine and boosting overall productivity. By reducing stress and preventing burnout, the measure may also have a positive impact on public health.

The shift toward a more modern labor framework, including the proposed new Labor Code, reflects Ukraine's effort to adapt its workplace standards to contemporary challenges—a move that could support the country's economic development and workforce resilience.