🔥 Wegweiser Burnout & Exhaustion

15 topic pages on work-related exhaustion and burnout – for people affected, their relatives and anyone who advises or supports them. Each page first explains the topic briefly and clearly – and below that in detail, with deadlines, legal bases and practice.

Important on "burnout" as a term. "Burnout" (ICD-10 Z73.0 "burn-out") is in Germany not a separate medical diagnosis, but a so-called Z-code. Sick leave, cost coverage for therapy, rehab or a reduced earning capacity pension are legally tied to a separate illness (e.g. a depressive episode or an adjustment disorder), not to the word "burnout" alone – more on this on the first topic page.

If you are thinking about suicide right now or are in acute danger: You are not alone. Call the TelefonSeelsorge (telephone helpline) – free, anonymous, around the clock: 0800 111 0 111 or 0800 111 0 222 (telefonseelsorge.de). In acute danger, call the emergency number 112 or go to the nearest emergency room.

As of September 2026. Where a figure could not be verified beyond doubt from official sources (e.g. waiting times or employer-dependent offers), this is stated explicitly on the page in question instead of guessed. The information does not replace medical, psychotherapeutic or legal advice in an individual case. For general mental health topics not specific to burnout, see the Depression module; for general employment law, the Employees module.

Frequently searched

🧭 What is burnout? Medical and legal classification 📄 Sick leave for burnout and exhaustion 🔄 Gradual return to work (Hamburg model) 🤝 Workplace integration management (BEM) 🏦 Sickness benefit for longer-lasting exhaustion ⚖️ Reduced earning capacity pension for chronic exhaustion 🛡️ Prevention: risk assessment of psychological stress 📞 Advice and contact points

All topic areas

🧭OverviewClassification: what burnout and exhaustion mean in medical and social-law terms.1 topic 🤒Sick leave and incomeSick leave, continued pay and sickness benefit in cases of exhaustion.3 topics 🔄Returning to workGradual return to work and workplace integration management.2 topics 🩺Treatment and rehabPsychotherapy, medical rehab and mother/father-child cures.3 topics ⚖️When exhaustion becomes long-termReduced earning capacity pension for chronic exhaustion.1 topic 🛡️Workplace and preventionRisk assessment of psychological stress and rights in cases of overload.2 topics 🤝Self-help, social circle and adviceStress management, relatives and contact points.3 topics

🧭 Overview

Classification: what burnout and exhaustion mean in medical and social-law terms.

🧭What is burnout? Medical and legal classificationBurnout is not a separate diagnosis but a risk factor (ICD-10 Z73.0). For sick leave, rehab or a pension, the underlying illness is what counts.

🤒 Sick leave and income

Sick leave, continued pay and sickness benefit in cases of exhaustion.

📄Sick leave for burnout and exhaustionBeing signed off sick because of exhaustion is possible – legally, however, incapacity for work is tied to a separate diagnosis, not to the term "burnout" alone. 💶Continued pay in case of illness (EFZG)Six weeks of full pay during incapacity for work due to illness – a special rule applies to repeated exhaustion because of the same illness. 🏦Sickness benefit for longer-lasting exhaustionAfter continued pay ends, the health insurer pays sickness benefit – for a maximum of 78 weeks because of the same illness within three years (block period).

🔄 Returning to work

Gradual return to work and workplace integration management.

🔄Gradual return to work (Hamburg model)Step-by-step return to work after a longer exhaustion illness – voluntary, medically supervised and usually while incapacity for work continues. 🤝Workplace integration management (BEM)After more than six weeks of incapacity for work within a year, the employer must offer BEM – participation is voluntary.

🩺 Treatment and rehab

Psychotherapy, medical rehab and mother/father-child cures.

🧠Psychotherapy and outpatient treatmentMental illnesses caused by exhaustion are mostly treated on an outpatient basis – through statutory health insurance, with clearly regulated access. 🏥Medical rehab for exhaustionInpatient or full-day outpatient rehab can help when outpatient treatment alone is not enough – usually funded by the pension insurance. 👨‍👧Mother-child and father-child cure for exhaustionFor mothers and fathers who need treatment for exhaustion, there is a separate preventive or rehab benefit from the health insurer.

⚖️ When exhaustion becomes long-term

Reduced earning capacity pension for chronic exhaustion.

⚖️Reduced earning capacity pension for chronic exhaustionA reduced earning capacity pension solely because of "burnout" is the exception, not the rule – strict medical and insurance-law conditions are decisive.

🛡️ Workplace and prevention

Risk assessment of psychological stress and rights in cases of overload.

🛡️Prevention: risk assessment of psychological stressEvery employer must systematically assess psychological stress at the workplace – an often unknown but enforceable duty. 📋Your rights in case of overload at workWorking time limits, rest periods and the right to report overload: what you can already do before an illness develops.

🤝 Self-help, social circle and advice

Stress management, relatives and contact points.

🧘Self-help and stress managementWhat you can do yourself supplements treatment and legal steps – but does not replace them where exhaustion needs treatment. 🤝Relatives and social circleWhen a partner, family or friends are exhausted: what relatives can do – and where their own limits lie. 📞Advice and contact pointsWho is responsible for which concern – from acute crisis to social-law advice.

For reference

📕Keyword indexAll terms from A to Z, with links to the matching topic pages. 📜Sources and methodWhere the information comes from and what is expressly uncertain. 🏠Other target groupsTo the overview of all Wegweiser portals.

A question about your situation that this page does not answer? Write to us or use the contact form – we will tell you which office is responsible and what to bring. Free of charge, without individual legal advice.