One notable case of needing time off during separation was when Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni took a personal day off from official duties in October 2025 after the announcement of her separation from her partner of 10 years.  

“I’m sorry to not be with you in person, but I, too, am human,” Meloni said in a video link at the Brothers of Italy conference in 2023.  

Should employers offer heartbreak leave?  

These experiences underscore the need for employers to give employees the space to grieve over heartbreak, according to reports.  

“Recognising and addressing these impacts proactively allows managers to support staff before challenges escalate,” Zety’s report reads.  

Courtney Boyer, relationship and sexuality expert and certified life coach, said workplaces would do well to accommodate employees experiencing heartbreak. Â