Part 4 of From Burnout To Recovery: A 24-Part Video Series
How To Start Medical Leave For Burnout
Learn how to begin medical leave for severe burnout, including finding out about benefits, speaking with your physician, and managing insurance paperwork.
Watch the 2-minute video below to find out more.
When Severe Burnout Makes It Impossible to Keep Working
Burnout can become so severe that you are no longer able to continue working. You may recognize that you have become a danger to your company, yourself, and your career.
You may be experiencing serious brain fog and recognize that it’s time to go on medical leave because you have no other choice.
Beginning medical leave can feel overwhelming when you are severely exhausted. You may not have the energy to research the process or determine what you need to do next.
When you are exhausted and experiencing serious brain fog, a simple list of steps can make the process easier to manage.
Find Out What Benefits Are Available
An important first step is to call your human resources department or benefits provider and ask what benefits are available to you.
Make an Appointment With Your Physician
Once you understand what benefits are available, make an appointment with your physician. Your physician will initiate your medical leave by writing a note confirming that you have been placed on leave. The note does not need to include any additional information.
Your physician will send the note to your employer or human resources department. Your medical leave begins once the note has been submitted.
Disconnect From Work
Once the note has been submitted, go home. Turn off your work phone and computer, get into bed, and sleep.
Your responsibility is no longer to keep working. It is to disconnect from work and begin recovering.
Many people say, “There are things I want to wrap up before I go on leave.”
If this is true for you, resist the urge to continue. By the time medical leave has become necessary, any further work will deplete energy that you need for recovery.
If You Feel You Must Wrap Up Some Work
You may believe that certain tasks must be completed before you leave. If you feel unable to step away immediately, limit the handover to one day, or two at most.
Make a list of what remains outstanding, decide who will assume responsibility for each item, and send the necessary emails. Then leave.
Do not try to finish everything yourself. Complete only the essential handover, disconnect from work, and step away.
Keep the Insurance Paperwork Moving
Once you are on medical leave, you have one remaining responsibility, which is to keep the insurance paperwork moving. This should require only a couple of hours each week, but it is important.
The insurance company will send forms to your physician. Physicians are busy, and paperwork can fall through the cracks, so contact the office to confirm that the forms have been completed and submitted. Follow up as necessary.
Your insurance company or human resources department will also send forms for you to complete. Fill them out and return them in a timely manner.
Although you are no longer working, the required paperwork must continue moving between you, your physician, the insurance company, and your human resources department, as appropriate.
You May Not Hear From Anyone for a While
Once you are on medical leave and the necessary forms have been submitted, you may not hear from anyone for some time. The insurance company may appear to be ignoring you, and as many as 12 weeks may pass before anyone contacts you.
This period of silence is a normal part of the medical-leave process. Once the paperwork has been submitted, there may be little left for you to do other than wait and recover.
It may also be reassuring to know that your company is not permitted to contact you during this period.
A Case Manager Will Contact You
At some point, a case manager will contact you. You do not have to answer the phone or speak with them immediately.
You may be too overwhelmed or tired to manage the conversation when they call. That is okay.
Return the call when you are able, but make sure that you respond within 48 hours.
The First Steps in Starting Medical Leave for Burnout
Once the necessary arrangements have been made, your priority is to disconnect from work and begin recovering. Keep the required insurance paperwork moving, respond when necessary, but direct most of your energy toward sleep and recovery.
Considering Next Steps
If you need to take medical leave, begin by finding out what benefits are available and then speak with your physician.
If you need additional help recovering from burnout, a psychologist in your area can help you transition onto medical leave.
Related Articles
- This article explains the process of beginning short-term medical leave and completing the required paperwork.
- This post describes how to recognize when burnout has impaired your ability to continue working safely and effectively.
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