How Long Should You Take Off Work After a Concussion?

Why There's No Standard Number of Sick Days for Concussion

Concussion severity ranges widely, from brief disorientation that clears in a day to persistent headaches, dizziness and difficulty concentrating that can drag on for weeks. Physical or safety-critical roles and jobs requiring sustained concentration or screen work often need a longer or staged recovery than desk-based roles, which have some built-in flexibility.

Cognitive Rest vs Physical Rest: They're Not the Same Thing

Cognitive rest means limiting screens, reading and fast-moving conversation activities that tax concentration, while physical rest means avoiding exertion and contact sport. Many people focus only on the physical side and keep scrolling or working through headaches, not realising that mental exertion can slow concussion recovery just as much as physical exertion does.

Managing the First Weeks at Home

The days immediately after a concussion matter more than most people expect. Cutting back on screen time, bright lights and loud environments in the first 24 to 48 hours gives the brain a better chance to settle before gradually reintroducing normal activity. Reading, scrolling on a phone, and following fast-moving conversations can all bring symptoms back, so pacing these rather than avoiding them entirely tends to work better than either pushing through or complete rest for weeks on end.

Returning to Work in Stages

Many concussions are managed with a graded return to work, starting with reduced hours or lighter duties before resuming full responsibilities. The GP can certify an initial period and advise on review if symptoms persist beyond that, rather than pushing straight back to full duties on a fixed date.

Work Return Should Be Graded, but Sport Timelines Are Not Work Timelines

Australian concussion guidance supports a gradual return to normal activity, but sport-specific minimum stand-down periods are designed for return to contact sport, not ordinary employment. Workplace timing should be based on symptoms, cognitive load, physical demands and safety risk. A screen-heavy role, a driving job and a manual safety-critical role may therefore return on different schedules.

• Cognitive work

Screens, reading, meetings and complex decisions can reproduce symptoms before physical exertion does.

• Driving and safety-critical duties

Reaction time, dizziness and concentration matter more when mistakes can harm the worker or others.

• Review as duties increase

The useful approach is to increase duties or hours while monitoring symptoms, not to copy a sports timetable into a workplace certificate.

What Australian and International Research Says About Recovery

Recovery timelines after concussion are staged, not fixed. The Australian Institute of Sport's position statement, published through Concussion in Australian Sport, advises a minimum of 14 days symptom-free at rest before returning to contact training and at least 21 days before competitive contact for community and youth participants. Workplace return follows the same principle: reassess symptoms as activity increases, rather than issuing a set number of days off upfront.

Returning to Work After a Concussion

For a broader look at concussion and work capacity, see concussion and work capacity. If your symptoms continue past your certified period, a fitness for work certificate can confirm when you're cleared to resume full duties, and Healthdirect's concussion overview covers typical recovery timeframes.