When Quitting Might Be the Healthiest Choice. If your employer cannot accommodate your needs, or your needs are too great to continue working, then quitting your job might save your mental health.
Absolutely, quitting a job due to excessive mental stress is justified. Prolonged exposure to high levels of stress can lead to serious physical and emotional consequences. It's important to prioritize self-care and find employment that aligns with personal values and promotes a healthier work-life balance.
Examples of resignation letters due to health and stress
As discussed with you on 7 July, I have been struggling to meet the demands of my role, and this has given me a great deal of stress that I have been unable to resolve. I am therefore resigning to focus on my mental health.
Making the decision to step away from a job is not always easy or feasible. But when your physical or emotional well-being is suffering and your stress isn't eased by the occasional mental health day, experts say it's generally best to start looking elsewhere.
If your stress is impacting your health, you may want to resign immediately so you can focus on getting help. Otherwise, giving notice can help preserve your professional reputation. Assess your current situation and decide which option is best for you, then clearly state your last day in your resignation letter.
Maybe. If you work in a high-stress job and have a lot of anxiety, there's no doubt that taking some time off or changing to a less stressful career will help your anxiety. If you find yourself asking “should I quit my job because of anxiety?” then it might be time to reevaluate your work situation.
If you find you cannot work due to mental illness, you may be able to obtain Social Security Disability Insurance benefits. You must provide proof of the mental health disorder by first receiving an official diagnosis of mental illness. Also, SSDI does not pay benefits until after the fifth month of disability.
Yes, doing something you hate every day can take a toll on your body, but a dislike of your job is less likely to manifest itself in your body the same way true burnout would. If symptoms like headaches, backaches, panic attacks, or stomach issues are weighing you down, it's likely burnout that you're dealing with.
Quiet quitting is when employees continue to put in the minimum amount of effort to keep their jobs, but don't go the extra mile for their employer. This might mean not speaking up in meetings, not volunteering for tasks, and refusing to work overtime. It might also result in greater absenteeism.
The issues you experienced must be sufficiently serious for you to resign. You may be expected to have lodged a grievance (or raised the issue internally) to see if it could be dealt with before resigning. If your employer first dismisses you due to your work-related stress, you may have a claim for unfair dismissal.
Budget more time than you think you'll need so that the conversation isn't cut short. Be clear about the impact your mental health challenges are having at work. If the cause is work-related, share that also. As much as possible, come with suggestions for how your manager or HR can help you.
Be clear and concise, stating the specifics of how your mental health problems are impacting your work. The point here is to keep it professional and appropriate—your boss is not a therapist or close friend, so you need to stick to what matter's to the workplace.
Despite work etiquette and standards, no laws require employees to give any notice whatsoever – let alone two weeks – before quitting. While breached contracts may impact compensation or trigger a lawsuit, there aren't any legal protections for employers when employees decide to leave.
Sawchuk said the key is to gently approach whatever it is that's creating the discomfort, by doing “the opposite of what the anxiety is telling you to do.” He added, “If it's saying 'avoid, avoid, avoid,' we've got to figure out ways to gradually approach.”
Potential negative impact on your professional reputation
That's why you need to carefully consider if leaving your current job without another one lined up is really the right move. However, if you still decide to go for it, make sure you have a good explanation for the gap on your resume.
Quiet quitting then, is often used to cope with burnout. It has been defined in a couple of different ways — some describe it as not actively going above and beyond at work, while others see it as doing only the bare minimum to remain employed.
Up to 67% of US employees and 85% worldwide could be quiet quitting. A Gallup report states that only 15 percent of employees are actively engaged at work, which means up to 85% could be quiet quitting.
This differs from the “great resignation” in which employees left their jobs in droves. In quiet quitting, employees simply stop putting in the extra effort. They become disengaged and unproductive, but they don't make a fuss about it.
Unfortunately, while you can't be fired for burnout, you can be fired for poor job performance. It may feel nerve-wracking, but protecting your job may mean speaking to a manager or human resources professional. They can help you navigate what your options and rights are.
Before the pandemic, many career coaches and experts suggested that employees must stay in their current positions for at least a year, no matter the circumstances. Shorter tenures, experts told, meant that employees wouldn't be worth the company's while since they would move on when opportunity struck.
In an ideal world, you should stay at each job for a minimum of two years. However, if you quickly come to realize you made the wrong choice when accepting a position, don't feel obligated to stay at the company until your two-year anniversary.
Anxiety disorders like OCD, panic disorders, phobias, or PTSD are considered a disability. Therefore, they can qualify for Social Security disability benefits. Individuals must prove that it is so debilitating that it prevents them from working.
You may be able to get SSDI for severe depression and anxiety if you can prove your symptoms are truly disabling. We explain the steps you must take to have your case approved if you are qualified. Millions of Americans suffer from depression and anxiety.
Yes. People with depression are protected under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The ADA defines a person with a disability as anyone who: Has a physical or mental health problem that “substantially limits” at least one major life activity — this could be working or taking care of yourself.