The performance of a valued and productive employee recently seems to have slipp

Question

The performance of a valued and productive employee recently seems to have slipped significantly. The employee routinely appears disheveled and some have even complained about his personal hygiene. Along with this, the employee routinely shows up to work late (anywhere from 5 to 30 minutes), work is not being processed as quickly as it should be, and he is committing errors that never would have happened before a couple weeks ago.

What do you suspect may be the underlying problem in this scenario?

If you approached this employee and found out that his adolescent daughter was recently killed in car accident, what would be your plan moving forward? What if the employee were not forthcoming with the reason for his apparently lack of concern for his appearance and work product? How far would you pry before taking disciplinary steps? Would you response be different if you found out the employee was acting this way because a pet died?

Is there a reasonable timeframe for dealing with personal issues? Does it vary based upon the issue? What if, over a significant period of time, there is little to no improvement?

What burden do you believe you have as a manager for the personal safety, health, and well-being of your subordinates (including mental/psychological health)?

Explanation / Answer

Underlying problem in the scenario can be either grief reaction to death of a closed one ,his daughter or very beloved pet. Or differential dignosis of adjustment disorder with depressed mood.

There is an obvious stressor to which the employee is reacting in a way which he would never behaved few weeks earlier, not taking care of self,lack of concentration,committing errors in work ,coming late to work are suggestive of lack of energy,lack of concentration and sad mood.

If the stressor was his daughters death or death of any loved one, person must be going through grief which is a normal reaction and can last for six to twelve months. As a manager I would advise my employee to seek help from a professional clinical psychologist and if required psychiatrist for medical help. If I was clinical psychologist working with the same firm I would intervene by asking him to meet me regularly for psychotherapy.

After asking him and referring him to professional for seeking help, as his employer or manager ,I would make sure that environment at work place to be friendly and stress free for him for at least few months till he recovers,I wouldn't take any disciplinary steps till the time frame provided by professionals for him to recover because as and employer and caregiver I should take into consideration his mental well being too. Because his mental well being is going to affect his work potential and the companies work in turn.

If it was found that the employee was acting his way because his pet died, my response will still be the same ,I will still ask him to seek professional help to deal with his grief even if I found that it was death of his pet.

Yes in today's fast pace world of competition and high professionalism it is difficult to give every employee time to deal with his personal issues. So reasonable timeframe would be a couple of months and not more than that.

If over a significant period of time there is little to no improvement even after seeking professional help,as a manager I will ask him to procure a fitness certificate suggestive of his physical and mental well being from professional who is treating him. If the certificate suggest there is no improvement I will take desciplenary measures and terminate him and explain him the reason without hampering his self esteem.

As a manager there is always immense burden for personal safety ,health and we'll being of my subordinates ,it's my responsibility to make the environment at work, friendly and stress free. To arrange for recreational activities every now n then so that all the subordinates are at peace and mentally and psychological stable.

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