Help For A Troubled Employee

Dear Dr. LeCrone:

I became a supervisor in a small manufacturing company several months ago. I have no previous experience or training in supervision, and the employees that I now supervise were co-workers and close friends before my promotion.

During the last several weeks, one of my employees has developed a troublesome behavior that is interfering with his production. He insists on unnecessary, unscheduled and excessive repetition, counting and checking items, which slow down the whole production line. When his co-workers have expressed concerns, he has become upset and defensive.

His problem has been getting worse, and I wonder if he may have something called Obsessive Compulsive Disorder? Should I discuss my suspicions with him? I don’t want to be nosy, but his problem is affecting the whole company.

-A reader in Indiana

Dear reader:

Let me suggest that you set up a time to talk to this person in a quiet, calm and confidential manner.

Rather than trying to diagnose his problem yourself, you may want to focus on his job performance. Be prepared to give him specific examples, i.e., dates, times and specific description of the job performance issues that concern you. Point out how his behavior is damaging productivity. Tell him that his problem is also affecting the morale of his co-workers, and therefore has the potential to affect their job performance.

Discuss you concerns in a calm, caring manner, but resist trying to begin a counseling relationship with him. You can ask him if something at work is causing his problem and offer to make any reasonable changes if appropriate.

If he tells you that the problem is not connected to work, then suggest to him that he may want to seek assistance in changing his behavior. Many companies have employee assistance programs designed to provide help in situations like this. He may indeed be experiencing personal problems which are causing him problems at work, but trying to help him understand and solve these problems is best left to a professional counselor.

Set up a follow up time to talk to him again in a week or so, and carefully document your meetings for possible future reference. You may also want to let your supervisor know about your plans to help this employee and obtain his assent before proceeding with your plan.

Gook luck to you.