Return to work requires careful planning

Returning from burnout is not just about the first day back. It involves pre-return visits, meetings with liaisons, adapted tasks, and regular check-ins to prevent isolation and help adjust to returning to work.

Burnout is a work-related phenomenon

The World Health Organization describes burnout as a work-related phenomenon, not a medical disease. It results from chronic stress at work that has not been effectively managed, and it can cause fears upon returning, such as workload, colleagues' reactions, and changes that happened during the absence.

Anxiety is common after a long absence

Returning to work after a long absence can naturally cause anxiety. It may bring the desire to "resume one's place" while still feeling fragile. Dr. Céline Spinetto, an occupational physician, highlights that the risk of professional disengagement is real after a long sick leave.

Burnout does not guarantee a failed return

The risk of disengagement does not mean returning to work is doomed to fail. It mainly shows that the employee's motivation may not be enough. According to a 2026 survey by Ifop for Moka.Care, 24% of employees reported experiencing burnout due to work in the past five years.

Many do not return to the same company

Among those who experienced burnout with a medical opinion and work absence, 42% had an absence longer than one month, and 15% did not return to their original company after their absence ended.