Stress leave from work
Feeling stressed out by work? Workplace stress can not only take a toll on your productivity, but also have serious negative impacts on your personal life and overall wellbeing.
If you’re feeling stressed, it's possible to take mental health sick leave in New Zealand – being familiar with national guidelines around annual leave entitlements will help you decide on next steps.
What is stress leave?
Stress leave means days taken off work by an employee due to stress that is severe enough to negatively impact wellbeing. It might also be categorised as personal leave or sick leave, depending on your type of employment.
For example, a full-time employee is entitled to 10 paid days of sick leave – whether for mental health or any other personal health reason. If you’re a part-time employee, you may be entitled to mental-health day sick leave using pro-rata personal leave entitlements. But it’s best to check your employment agreement for specific details.
What qualifies as stress leave can vary from case to case, but if you’re feeling overwhelmed or that stress is impacting your mental health, it’s worth investigating the types of leave your employer offers.
Does stress leave count as sick leave at my workplace? Most of the time, the answer will be yes. You can speak to your doctor about getting a medical certificate for stress leave, which will help down the track if you need to apply for workers’ compensation for stress leave.
Why is stress leave important?
Stress can have a big impact on both your mental and physical health. When stress begins to impact your wellbeing, it can lead to irritability, fatigue and reduced productivity at work and at home. Work stress can cause health problems like headaches, high blood pressure, anxiety and depression, among many others. That’s why it’s important to monitor your stress levels and take stress leave if you need to.
Do you get paid for mental health leave?
Is stress leave paid? That depends on your company’s policies, your employment contract terms, and the labour laws that apply to your role and company.
Paid sick leave
Permanent full-time and part-time employees are entitled to a certain amount of paid leave that they can use for stress leave, or any other type of illness. You may need to get a medical certificate from your doctor, so be sure to check your workplace’s personal leave policies. Casual employees are not typically entitled to paid leave of any type, but that may not be the case for you: specific information regarding your job and entitlements can be found in your employment contract.
All types of employees, including casual employees, may access financial support through their superannuation, income protection insurance, or workers’ compensation. Workers’ compensation sick leave can partially cover lost income due to injury or sickness, including stress leave.
Unpaid sick leave
In some cases, you may not be able to receive financial support or cover your full wages while on mental health leave, and may have to take unpaid stress leave. In this case, it’s important to weigh up the pros and cons of taking stress leave, to ensure your financial situation doesn’t cause even more stress. You should also be aware that taking time off may impact other benefits, like health insurance and contributions to your superannuation.
There may be other types of leave available to you, or your employer may offer more flexible work arrangements, such as working from home, reducing your responsibilities or changing your work hours, to help alleviate some of your work stress without taking unpaid sick leave.
Signs you should take stress leave from work
There are signs that may indicate you are in need of a mental health day. Sick leave is always an option if you’re suffering from symptoms of stress and they’re affecting your overall wellbeing. The following symptoms may be used as grounds for stress leave, depending on your workplace.
Emotional signs
- Anxiousness
- Irritability
- Sadness
- Constant worry or fear
- Inability to concentrate
- Lack of motivation
Physical signs
- Insomnia
- Frequent headaches
- Muscle pains
- Changes in appetite
- Nausea
- Digestive problems
- Panic attacks
- Restlessness
- High blood pressure
- Chest pains and a racing heart
- Faintness or dizziness
How to apply for stress leave at work
Applying for stress leave at work is a straightforward process. Consider it that same as any other type of illness or personal reason for taking time off. The following steps outline the process of applying for stress leave in the typical New Zealand workplace.
- Know your entitlements. Before applying for stress leave, read up on worker rights and entitlements, as well as your responsibilities to your employer.
- Review your company’s policy. Check your company’s policies on personal and carer’s leave, annual leave, mental health days and other leave entitlements. Find out if you need a medical certificate, as many employers don’t require one for paid leave of one or two days. You may even find your employer offers additional mental health leave days per year on top of your government mandated paid annual leave.
- Speak to your healthcare provider. If your work is causing enough anxiety to warrant stress leave, it’s a good idea to speak to a healthcare professional. You can consult them on steps to take to improve your mental wellbeing and ask them to provide a medical certificate, which you may need to qualify for paid leave or financial support.
- Find the right time to request leave. For the best chances of having your stress leave approved, request it for a time when your employer won’t be critically understaffed, if possible. Try to avoid requesting leave before any big events or during busy periods when days off would be hard for your workplace to accommodate.
- Meet with your manager and discuss your options. Speak to your manager and let them know you feel the need to take stress leave, addressing the reasons why. Explain how taking some time off will benefit you and your team in the long run, and collaborate with them on creating a plan for managing your workload while you’re away.
- Formalise the process with your human resource department. If your employer has an HR department, submit your formal request for stress leave, following any procedures outlined in your company’s leave policy. Include your medical certificate and any other supporting documentation with your request.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed at work, you may benefit from taking stress leave. New Zealand mandates paid leave entitlements for most types of workers, so using some of this for stress leave can help give you a break without affecting your income. Even if you’re not a permanent employee, it’s worth reviewing your employment contract for any leave entitlements. If you need to take unpaid stress leave, workers’ compensation may be a form of financial support available to you.
FAQs
What happens if you take stress leave from work?
If you take stress leave from work, you may be able to use paid sick leave. You should refer to your employer’s sick leave policy for details and speak to your doctor to document your need for work leave due to stress.
How long can you be off work with stress?
Full-time permanent employees can take up to 10 days of personal leave per year, including for stress. You may need to provide a medical certificate. If you need more time off or are under a part-time or casual contract, it’s best to speak to your workplace about the leave policies they have in place.
How do I let go of stress at work?
Some ways to let go of stress and manage your emotions at work include:
- Understanding what is triggering your stress response
- Addressing the trigger/s directly
- Recalibrating your work-life balance
- Establishing boundaries at work: pushing back on demands, addressing cultural stressors.
You can also speak with your workplace, family and doctor to discuss ways to reduce your workload and stress.
How do you deal with extreme stress at work?
When dealing with extreme stress at work, it’s important to find time to relax and disconnect. Balance work with time spent doing things you enjoy, with family and friends, and practising self-care.
Do you get paid for stress leave in New Zealand?
While there is no legal entitlement to "stress" leave, you can use your paid personal/sick leave as stress leave.
How long can I take stress leave from work in New Zealand?
Full-time employees can use up to 10 days of paid personal leave per year for stress leave. You may also be able to take additional time and receive financial support through workers’ compensation.
What do you say to a doctor to get signed off work with stress?
When speaking to your doctor about stress at work, explain to them you are experiencing symptoms of stress due to your workplace, describing any anxiety, irritability, fatigue and other signs of stress. Ask your doctor for a medical certificate, and consult with them on ways you can manage your stress.
When should I see my GP about stress?
You should see your GP about stress if you are feeling symptoms of stress frequently, are finding your workload hard to manage or the symptoms are increasing.
Can I resign with immediate effect due to stress?
You may be able to resign effective immediately due to medical reasons, such as stress. Check your employment contract and company policies about your rights and responsibilities.
What are 5 emotional signs of stress?
Five of the most common signs of stress are:
- Becoming easily irritable
- Experiencing anxiety
- Feeling depressed
- Feeling uninterested in life
- Feeling overwhelmed
There are many other emotional and physical signs of stress, some outlined above.