Kao Corporation, a global leader in personal care and cosmetics manufacturing, will observe a company-wide Mental Health Day on Blue Monday: Monday, 19 January 2026. All Kao EMEA offices, its UK production site and Molton Brown stores will be closed so colleagues can take a paid day off to rest, recharge and focus on their mental health and wellbeing. Kao’s Germany production site will observe their Mental Health Day on Monday, 16 February 2026.
The Mental Health Day builds on Kao EMEA’s ongoing mental health and wellbeing programme. In addition to the paid day off, employees have access to a range of initiatives designed to support mental health and create a safe workplace, including:
- A hybrid working model to support flexibility and work-life balance.
- Meeting-free mornings to protect focused time and reduce scheduling pressure.
- Practical programmes offering mental health resources and support.
- A trained network of mental health first aiders across the organisation.
- Dedicated training for managers to better recognise and respond to team members’ mental health needs.
“Employee wellbeing is fundamental to who we are and how we work,” said Gabriele Arend, Vice President, HCD, at Kao EMEA. “While we recognise that mental health challenges do not begin and end on a single day, setting aside time for rest and reflection helps create space for recovery and reinforces our commitment to supporting colleagues throughout the year.”
Elizaveta Khadjinova, senior manager diversity, equity and inclusion at Kao EMEA, adds: “We believe that prioritising mental health is essential to fostering open dialogue, reducing stigma and creating an inclusive environment where people can be their authentic selves.”
