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The proposal

What is Selfternity™ Leave?

Selfternity™ Leave is a developing global workplace-policy proposal for paid, job-protected time away, a structured recalibration process and a planned return to work. It is intended for people whose capacity has been seriously reduced by burnout, overwhelm, grief or a major life transition.

What is the proposal working towards?

The proposal is working towards five protections: paid leave, job protection, no career penalty, manager preparation and a structured return to work.

Paid leave

Financial pressure should not make protected recalibration inaccessible from the start.

Job protection

Taking the leave should not automatically require resignation or place employment at risk.

No career penalty

A person should not sacrifice progression simply because they used an approved form of leave.

Manager preparation

Managers need clear guidance on privacy, workload, communication and the employee's return.

Structured return-to-work support

Re-entry needs attention so old pressures and patterns are not simply waiting on the first day back.

How would it differ from existing leave options?

Existing options each cover part of the need, but none is designed for serious depletion with a structured recalibration process and a planned return. The comparison below sets out the differences.

Leave rights and workplace practices vary by country, employer, contract and individual circumstances. This table compares common characteristics and the proposed design of Selfternity™ Leave.

  • Annual leave

    Paid
    Yes
    Employment continues
    Yes
    Intended for serious depletion or major life transition
    No
    Structured recalibration process
    No
    Manager preparation
    No
    Planned return-to-work process
    No

  • Sick leave

    Paid
    Partially
    Employment continues
    Yes
    Intended for serious depletion or major life transition
    Partially
    Structured recalibration process
    No
    Manager preparation
    Partially
    Planned return-to-work process
    Partially

  • Sabbatical

    Paid
    Partially
    Employment continues
    Partially
    Intended for serious depletion or major life transition
    No
    Structured recalibration process
    No
    Manager preparation
    No
    Planned return-to-work process
    No

  • Resignation

    Paid
    No
    Employment continues
    No
    Intended for serious depletion or major life transition
    No
    Structured recalibration process
    No
    Manager preparation
    No
    Planned return-to-work process
    No

  • Selfternity™ Leave — Proposed Design

    Paid
    Yes
    Employment continues
    Yes
    Intended for serious depletion or major life transition
    Yes
    Structured recalibration process
    Yes
    Manager preparation
    Yes
    Planned return-to-work process
    Yes
  • Yes:

    Ordinarily an intended or defining feature.

  • Partially:

    May depend on law, employer, eligibility, duration or circumstances.

  • No:

    Not designed to provide that feature.

Is Selfternity™ Leave available now?

No. Selfternity™ Leave is a developing proposal, not an existing entitlement, employee benefit or adopted policy. Eligibility, duration, funding and implementation are still being developed.

This page is not legal advice. Any future policy would complement, not replace, an employer’s responsibility to identify, prevent and control workplace psychosocial hazards through safe work design and management.

Why does petition support matter?

Petition support helps demonstrate that this missing option deserves serious exploration. Every signature is a public signal to workplaces, researchers and policymakers that the gap between powering through and resigning needs a credible answer.

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When you still have the capacity to reflect

If something feels off but reflection still feels possible, the 7.3 Self-Leadership Workshop offers an earlier route.

Explore the 7.3 Workshop (opens in a new tab)
See who it may be forExplore the five-part journeyInformation for workplaces

Last updated: October 2026