According to a recent by ADP Research Institute, 68% of respondents in North America claim they feel stressed at least once a week. Yet, only 22% admit they would feel comfortable telling their manager about it. Because of this, increasing numbers of employees are taking stress leave from work.
In this post we will answer questions like this. We will also share everything you need to know about stress leave, including a few tips to help you reduce stress and anxiety levels in your company.
Stress is an inevitable part of life. We all experience it from time to time, whether it’s from our jobs, relationships, finances, or general life challenges. While short-term stress can give you a boost of energy and focus to power through tough situations, prolonged and chronic stress takes a real toll on your mental and physical health. At some point, it may reach a level where you need to step back and recuperate. So when is it time to take off work for stress?
As an increasingly overworked society, many of us push ourselves to the brink of burnout without taking real breaks. We glorify being constantly “busy” and neglect self-care. But the truth is everyone needs rest, recovery and a respite from stressors to function at their best. Sometimes the best way to regain perspective and your energy is to take time off work specifically to address mounting stress.
Recognizing When Work Stress Levels Are Too High
Stress manifests in many ways physically, mentally and emotionally. Signs your work stress may have reached a point where a break could be beneficial include:
- Chronic headaches, stomachaches, muscle tension or other stress-related ailments
- Feeling anxious, irritable, or emotionally volatile
- Having difficulty concentrating, recalling details or making decisions
- Dreading going to work and counting down until the end of each day
- Change in sleep habits like inability to fall asleep or sleeping excessively
- Fatigue, low motivation and decreased performance
- Increased cynicism, negativity or disconnection from what you do
If you check several of those boxes, it’s worth assessing whether time away from the workplace could get you back on track mentally.
Options for Taking Leave
Depending on where you live and work, there are a few ways to take time off for stress legally and financially affordably
The Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) in the United States allows certain employees at larger companies to take medical leave for up to 12 weeks per year for physical or mental health conditions without losing their job. This includes stress-related diagnoses like anxiety, depression or burnout syndrome. To qualify, your doctor will need to verify and recommend leave for a serious medical issue that interferes with your ability to work.
Some progressive companies also offer paid and unpaid stress leave policies specifically for employees who are overloaded and struggling. Whether mandated by law or not, any empathetic employer should be open to making accommodations if a valued team member is suffering from excessive stress and needs to take a break.
If neither of those options are feasible, personal leaves of absence or resigning with the potential to return later on are alternatives. You may also be able to use accrued vacation or sick time as stress leave in some cases.
What Should You Do on Stress Leave?
Once your time off is settled, the important question is how to make this sabbatical as restorative as possible for both your mental health and work performance. Here are some tips:
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Disconnect from work as much as you can. Don’t check emails constantly or keep tabs on projects. The break will be less rejuvenating if you don’t unplug.
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Focus on stress management through yoga, meditation, therapy, massage or other relaxing and introspective activities. Make this your sole priority during leave.
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Improve your diet, sleep habits, exercise routine and other parts of a healthy lifestyle often neglected when you’re burned out.
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Spend time outdoors, immerse yourself in hobbies, visit with family and friends or travel if possible. Follow what energizes you.
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Reflect on what specific stress triggers you face at work and home. Assess what changes could help long-term.
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If financial stress is a factor, organize your finances, create a budget or explore options like debt consolidation.
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Avoid simply vegging out on streaming TV all day. Leave needs an active focus on renewing your mind, body and outlook.
Transitioning Back to Work
When your leave ends, ease back into workplace demands gradually. Request a modified schedule or responsibilities with lighter pressure while you rebuild stamina and readjust. Be transparent with your manager that you may need extra support and check-ins during this transition period.
Make mental health your priority moving forward too. Keep up stress management practices, set boundaries around your time and continue examining how to create a more sustainable workload. Don’t jump immediately back into old habits that drain you.
Taking Care of Yourself Is Not Selfish
If your stress levels are untenable, don’t feel guilty for needing to press pause. Despite cultural beliefs that constant busyness is heroic, the truth is everyone deserves respite from their struggles. Taking care of your mental health benefits your loved ones, colleagues and employer too, as you will be able to perform better rested.
While pushing through adversity often seems noble, sometimes wisdom is knowing when to stop and replenish so you can come back stronger. If your mind, body and spirit are completely depleted, it is not selfish but in fact selfless to take a break and rediscover your inner reserves.
The next time you are overwhelmed to an unsustainable point, reflect on whether time off devoted to lowering stress could be the smartest long-term solution. Prioritize self-care without shame or apologies. You deserve to have fulfilling work and life balance. With rest, recovery and a fresh start, taking leave for stress may empower you to accomplish great things once again.
Workers Compensation & Leave: What You Need to Know
We’ve seen what stress leave from work is, and common reasons why an employee may feel they need to request a period of stress leave. Now let’s take a look at some of the laws relating to stress leave to help you understand what your obligations are as an employer.
We will start by looking at federal obligations relating to the FMLA. We will also take a look at some of the state laws in California relating to workers comp for stress. However, it’s important to remember that stress leave laws vary by state, so you should contact your state’s department of labor if you are in any doubt.
According to the United States Department of Labor, the following employees are eligible for time off due to the FMLA:
Works for a covered employer (50+ employees within a 75-mile radius of the workplace); In employment for at least 12 months; and Has provided at least 1,250 hours of service to you during the 12-month period immediately preceding the leave.
The FMLA “entitles eligible employees of covered employers to take unpaid, job-protected leave for specified family and medical reasons”. Under the FMLA, employees who take stress leave must show that it is: (1) the result of a serious health condition, and; (2) that said condition makes the employee unable to perform the functions of his or her job.
There is no maximum time off for stress. However, under the FMLA, you are not obligated to pay employees who take a period of stress leave from work. Whether you offer time in lieu, paid leave, or unpaid time off will depend on the terms of your leave of absence policy. This policy should clearly outline all types of time off requests, including intermittent leave and sabbatical leave, amongst others.
Your obligations as an employer will also depend on the state where you are located.
For example, California Government Code §12945.2(a), also known as the California Family Rights Act, requires employers to allow employees with serious health conditions to take up to 12 weeks off in any 12-month period. This is provided they have worked at least 1,250 hours for you within the previous 12 months. The law also states that you must make a guarantee of employment upon the termination of the leave.
However, much like the FMLA, under the CFRA, you are not required to pay employees while they are out of work.
What is Stress Leave from Work?
Stress leave, also known as stress disability leave, is a type of medical leave of absence that employees can request if they are experiencing physical and/or mental effects of stress, anxiety, or depression.
An increasingly common example of a stress leave of absence being seen by employers since the start of the pandemic is employee burnout in remote workers. Burnout occurs when employees maintain high levels of stress for too long. This might be because they are overworked, they have a tough manager with unrealistic expectations, or they don’t have the right tools and support to do their job.
Signs that an employee is experiencing stress include a drop in performance and productivity, persistent lateness, and an increase in absences. As an employer, it’s important to address any signs of stress at the first opportunity. Failure to do so can not only affect the health and wellbeing of the employee in question, but it can also have a negative impact on the overall performance of your company.
Taking time off from work could be crucial for avoiding stress and depression
How do I take time off work for stress?
The last step in taking time off work for stress is submitting your leave request. Reach out to your human resources department to learn more about the company’s policies or your eligibility for time off under the FMLA. When you submit your request, consider following these practices: Provide enough notice.
How can I immediately relieve mental stress?
When you need fast-working relief for mental stress, try belly breathing. 1. Lie on your back. Put one hand on your belly, just below the navel. Close your eyes. 2. Breathe in quietly through your nose, filling your lower lungs with air. As the diaphragm pulls down, you should feel your belly rise about an inch. Your chest will rise, too, in concert with your abdomen. 3. Breathe out, allowing your belly to return to its starting position. 4. Keep breathing through your nose, mouth closed, as your belly and chest rise and fall, for a few minutes or until you feel more relaxed.
Can I take time off work due to stress?
Taking time off work due to stress is legally the same as taking time off for any other illness. There are also several things you can do to help you identify whether you’re suffering from stress, and determine the appropriate steps for dealing with it. Read the steps below to understand the UK laws on the matter: 1. Acknowledge your stress levels
Is there a maximum time off for stress?
There is no maximum time off for stress. However, under the FMLA, you are not obligated to pay employees who take a period of stress leave from work. Whether you offer time in lieu, paid leave, or unpaid time off will depend on the terms of your leave of absence policy.
