Returning to Work After a Mental Health Absence

Coming back to work after time off for depression, anxiety or burnout is its own challenge, and how you handle it depends a lot on whether you are employed or self-employed. If you are employed, you have sick-leave protections and the right to ask for a phased return. If you are self-employed, there is no statutory safety net, which is exactly why planning ahead matters. If things feel overwhelming, the SADAG Suicide Crisis Helpline is 0800 567 567 and Lifeline SA is 0861 322 322, both free and 24 hours.‍‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​‍

As an employee

If you are employed and have been off due to a mental health condition:

• Your employer cannot dismiss you for being sick, provided you follow the correct sick-leave procedures under the Basic Conditions of Employment Act (BCEA). You are entitled to 30 days of paid sick leave over a three-year cycle. Sick-leave entitlements can be amended, so verify the current position at www.labour.gov.za.
• Request a phased return. Negotiate with your employer to come back part-time or on reduced duties at first.
• Use a return-to-work agreement. A written agreement between you, your employer and your treating doctor that sets out adjusted duties, hours and review dates is good practice.
• The OHSA covers mental health risks too. The duty to provide a safe working environment extends to mental health, so if the work environment caused or worsened your condition, your employer has a duty to address that hazard.

If you feel you have been treated unfairly, the dispute route is the CCMA (Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration) at www.ccma.org.za.

As a self-employed tradie

There is no sick pay and no statutory protection, which is why preparing in advance is the only real safety net:

• Income-protection insurance is the key tool. It pays a proportion of your income if you cannot work due to illness. Shop around and read the fine print on mental health exclusions before you need it.
• Be honest with regular clients, at whatever level of disclosure you are comfortable with. Most will hold work for a tradie they trust.
• Use the recovery period for admin. Quoting, invoicing and keeping your social media ticking over means you re-enter the market with momentum rather than from a standstill.
• Get a referral through SADAG at sadag.org for a psychologist. If private fees are out of reach, ask about community mental health services at your nearest public clinic.

Common mistakes

• Returning at full pace overnight. A phased return protects the recovery; jumping straight back to 100 percent often triggers a relapse.
• Not asking for adjustments. Reasonable accommodations are a right for employees; ask rather than assume the answer is no.
• Going solo with no income protection. Without cover, a mental health absence means no income at all, which compounds the stress.
• Cutting off clients entirely. A short, honest message keeps the door open far better than going silent.

Spotted something wrong or out of date? Email us at hello@kilnguides.co.uk.

In crisis? SADAG 0800 567 567 · Mental health support

How this site is funded →