Xero New Zealand chief executive Craig Hudson, who has personally dealt with mental health issues, recalls working at another job where he was told "to not bring your baggage to work."
"For me, that's ridiculous... the statistics here in New Zealand are ridiculous, not only from a suicide perspective but also from a mental health perspective and we [need to] realise that we've got a collective responsibility to look after each other in a work environment," Hudson said.
In October, Hudson's firm launched a "wellbeing leave" policy that allows staff to take personal leave to deal with mental health concerns. "You have to be quite brave to tackle something like this and raise it in a position of leadership where traditionally the stigma around mental health is [that it's] a weakness and could be potentially career limiting and if you talk you're going to get judged," he added.