“Take a break from work” is bad advice to someone who’s stressed or burned out.
Here’s a mathematical proof:
1. If work does not cause their stress, why should they stay away from work?
2. If work indeed causes their stress, how’s taking time off work going to help them? They are going to come back to work at some point, or not? What if taking time off makes them feel more anxious? How will things be different when they are back? Will the workload, responsibilities, or people be different?
To me, if someone is stressed, it’s probably because they care about their work.
Sending them to the bench is going to make things worse for them and the business.
If you want to help them, sit down and talk with them.
Understand what the deeper issues of their stress are.
Loving you, Angelos