A depression is a serious mental illness characterized by persistent low mood, loss of interest and pleasure, reduced motivation, and physical symptoms. It is not uncommon to work while dealing with depression—many people do so. In these cases, treatment runs parallel to your job. Following an initial examination and diagnosis, your treatment plan is discussed and decided upon together with your general practitioner (GP) and a psychotherapist. It typically includes psychotherapy and, depending on the severity of the depression, medication in the form of antidepressants.

The online program deprexis is a prescribable, interactive digital tool designed to support your treatment for depression. It is based, among other things, on the principles of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and can provide you with structure and daily exercises while you are waiting for a therapy placement or in between therapy sessions.

Those who work while dealing with depression must manage their own energy and ruthlessly prioritize. This is the only way to keep your feet on the ground—without overwhelming yourself.

When you are struggling with depression, the feeling of being overwhelmed can often be paralyzing. Because of this, a clear prioritizing system—also known as pacing—can help you. Pacing refers to an energy management technique designed to conserve your personal resources during any long-term illness, including depression.

Focus on the MUST: Trying to complete many tasks at once is often impossible when dealing with depression. This plan helps you direct your strength intentionally. Because of this, write down a maximum of two to three tasks that absolutely must be completed today (must-haves), and block out times for them when you can work undisturbed. Tasks that can wait (nice-to-haves) go onto a separate list or—if your workplace uses digital tools—onto a ticket board. Cross out everything else with a brief justification to yourself or your team. This conscious act of eliminating tasks creates peace of mind and focus. Here is an overview:

Must-haves

• What to do: Write down a maximum of 2–3 tasks that absolutely must be completed today. Plan a clear, undisturbed time block for each.
• Positive effect for you: Achieve success and gain a sense of control.

Nice-to-haves

• What to do: Everything that can wait goes onto a separate list or a ticket board.
• Positive effect for you: No overwhelming stress; you know that the tasks are not forgotten.

Drop / Cross out

• What to do: Consciously cross out everything else. Write down a brief note to yourself explaining why it is not necessary today.
• Positive effect for you: Create peace of mind and a clear focus; lower your workload.

To objectively assess your workload and stress levels, take three minutes each day for a self-check. Rate the following areas on a scale from 0 to 10:

• Your sleep.
• Your motivation/drive.
• Your rumination/worrying.
• Your productivity at work.
• Your personal/private activities.

If your scores fall below four points in two out of these five areas, or if you notice a significant worsening, you should discuss this with your general practitioner (GP) or—if you are currently in psychotherapeutic treatment—with your psychotherapist.

Your rights provide security and enable you to get the necessary relief. Use them step by step depending on your situation—you do not need to be a legal expert to do so. Employees suffering from depression have legal options ranging from sick leave and continued payment of wages to protection against discrimination.

Particularly during prolonged absences, Company Integration Management is an important process designed to ease your return to the job. Even in the case of illness, termination by the employer is only possible under very strict conditions. At the same time, you have the right to have the possibility of adjustments to your workplace and job duties reviewed in order to reduce your workload.

If you do not feel able to work due to depression, you have the right to take sick leave, officially known as an inability to work (in German referred to as Arbeitsunfähigkeit or AU). You only need to inform your employer about the duration of your absence. You are under no obligation to state your diagnosis—the nature of your illness remains entirely private. This medical certificate serves as your foundation to focus fully on your recovery.

If you are unable to work due to your depression, you are entitled to the continued payment of your wages by your employer for up to six weeks. Generally, it is only after this period that sick pay from your health insurance provider kicks in. This right to continued remuneration during illness provides you with the financial security you urgently need during such a challenging time.

As an employee, you are protected against discrimination based on a chronic illness under the General Act on Equal Treatment. This means you cannot be disadvantaged because of your depression, provided you can fulfill your contractual duties. Furthermore, you are not required to disclose your illness during the application process unless it would completely prevent you from performing the job.

You have the right to have your employer review whether your workplace or your scope of duties can be adjusted to reduce your overall workload. This can include:

• A reduction in working hours (e.g., transitioning to part-time).
• Shifting tasks away from high-stress factors.
• Ergonomic modifications to your workspace (e.g., noise reduction or working from home).

You are encouraged to actively propose these adjustments yourself.

If you have been unable to work for more than six weeks within a one-year period, your employer is legally required to actively offer you Company Integration Management. This is a structured process designed to help you overcome your inability to work, prevent future relapses, and safeguard your position. You decide entirely for yourself whether to accept this offer and who should be involved in the process (e.g., the works council or the occupational physician).

Termination of employment due to illness-related inability to work is only permissible under extremely strict conditions. The employer must prove that your inability to work will lead to significant operational or economic disruption in the future, and that no lesser measures (such as a reassignment or workplace adjustments) are available to prevent this. Most importantly, your employer must first conduct an integration process and thoroughly review whether your job can be preserved.

Whether you choose to inform your employer about your depression is a decision that you should make very carefully. You are under no legal obligation to disclose your diagnosis. What ultimately matters is your productivity—and what adjustments can help you maintain it.

Disclosing your diagnosis is generally only advisable if you can derive a clear benefit from it and the following conditions are met:

• Trust: You trust your supervisor or the HR department. The decision to disclose should only be made if you feel safe at your company and can assume that the information will be treated confidentially and used to your advantage.
• Support: You require concrete support and workplace adjustments. Naming the diagnosis can ease your access to formal assistance, such as Company Integration Management, or specific relief measures (e.g., a quieter workspace or a reduction in travel duties).
• Authenticity: Disclosing strengthens your credibility. Being transparent can help foster understanding and accommodation, especially if you need to repeatedly request adjustments or flexible working hours.
• Reintegration: You are starting a formal reintegration process. Although a stepwise reintegration does not legally require a diagnosis, informing the relevant departments (HR, occupational physician) often ensures the process runs more smoothly.
• Teamwork: You want to take the pressure off your immediate environment. When your team and your manager are aware of the situation, they can be more intentionally considerate, and you will have to expend less energy trying to hide your symptoms.

Please focus primarily on solutions rather than problems, keeping your requests as concrete as possible:

• Clearly state your goal: "I want to complete my tasks reliably, and to do that, I will need two quiet work blocks in the morning for the next six weeks."
• Formulate specific requests: "Please let's reduce my meetings to a maximum of two per week. We can bundle all other requests through the ticket system."
• Transparency without a diagnosis: "I am currently re-entering the workplace under medical supervision as part of a stepwise reintegration to gradually rebuild my capacity."

During a reintegration process following depression, your working hours can be increased gradually. Key steps include coordinating with your general practitioner (GP), your employer, and your health insurance provider. The treating physician determines the duration and scope of the gradual return, while the health insurance provider continues to pay sick leave benefits during this phase.

• Office / IT (5 weeks): You start in week 1 with three hours per day, focusing solely on maintenance or tickets, without any on-call duties. In week 2, you increase to four hours and work on a single project module. Starting in week 3, you move to five hours and participate in one meeting per day. The goal is to establish a stable routine of six to seven hours by week 5.
• Nursing / Shift Work (6 weeks): You begin with three hours per day, with no night shifts, assigned to a quiet ward and paired with a dedicated mentor. After two weeks, a cautious expansion takes place, with mandatory breaks firmly scheduled into the duty roster.
• Sales (6 weeks): The process starts exclusively in the office, followed later by short customer appointments accompanied by a colleague. Variable sales targets and performance quotas are only agreed upon after this phase.