Depression in the Workplace.

Datura

Datura

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A friend of mine is suffering from depression. She saw a doctor a couple of months ago who put her on anti depro meds and anti anxiety meds. Adding to that, she recently got divorced, relocated to Jhb and is struggling to find a place to stay as her salary barely covers her monthly expenses and living with family until she does has also turned out to be more stressful than anticipated. All of this is taking a toll on her performance at work and she is really stressing that her slower turnover of deliverables as of late is being viewed in a negative light by her superiors. She decided to email her manager to explain that she is depressed and has sought medical assistance to combat it but realises it is having a negative affect on her performance. Now she is worried that they can use this against her and dismiss her. Surely it is unconstitutional to dismiss her for depression or even for poor performance if she has told them she is suffering from depression and has sought medical assistance? I'm not quite sure what to tell her or what advice I can give her...
 
Then all who are fired will claim depression.

My manager says that , it take 30 minutes to appoint a worker, and 10 years to fire a bad worker.

I feel sorry for your friend, but as they say, Africa is a tough country.

She and other people must join group that stand by each other and uplift each other.
 
Robertvv said:
Then all who are fired will claim depression.

My manager says that , it take 30 minutes to appoint a worker, and 10 years to fire a bad worker.

I feel sorry for your friend, but as they say, Africa is a tough country.

She and other people must join group that stand by each other and uplift each other.
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:wtf:

Erm...

Thanks, I think.

:wtf:
 
It's very difficult to fire an employee in South Africa so your friend has nothing to worry about.
 
If she's been professionally diagnosed and has informed her superiors and then gets fired then bring the wrath of Satan down on the company... Being fired for depression is exactly the same as being fired because you've got cancer
 
Datura said:
A friend of mine is suffering from depression. She saw a doctor a couple of months ago who put her on anti depro meds and anti anxiety meds. Adding to that, she recently got divorced, relocated to Jhb and is struggling to find a place to stay as her salary barely covers her monthly expenses and living with family until she does has also turned out to be more stressful than anticipated. All of this is taking a toll on her performance at work and she is really stressing that her slower turnover of deliverables as of late is being viewed in a negative light by her superiors. She decided to email her manager to explain that she is depressed and has sought medical assistance to combat it but realises it is having a negative affect on her performance. Now she is worried that they can use this against her and dismiss her. Surely it is unconstitutional to dismiss her for depression or even for poor performance if she has told them she is suffering from depression and has sought medical assistance? I'm not quite sure what to tell her or what advice I can give her...
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Pls tell me she went to see a psychiatrist, and have regular follow ups , and did not just go and see a GP! So quickly you get diagnosed, and put on meds ...same crap happened to me some a few years back...worked in a god awful call centre, happy juice drainer of note...anyways, saw a psychologist -- after one session, you clearly depressed...gave me a note for my doctor to fill....long story short....took a change of doctor, and a Why the hell are you on this crap conversation..to get me off the crap, that was so screwing around with my well being....
 
I am talking from personal experience. Someone close to me has a medical condition, which could or could not affect her performance at work. So the company has an official policy where you disclose this to your manager, and there is a formal forum where HR, Manager and a "Doctor" are present. This is obviously done to protect both the company and yourself i.e. disability payouts, insurances, boarding etc.

Even though some people don't consider depression to be a medical condition, but rather a state of mind, I would assume that your friends company has a similar policy (I'm sure its law). I would definitely investigate the option of having a similar interaction with her manager. People tend to not take it too seriously when there is nothing formal on paper.
 
yebocan said:
Pls tell me she went to see a psychiatrist, and have regular follow ups , and did not just go and see a GP! So quickly you get diagnosed, and put on meds ...same crap happened to me some a few years back...worked in a god awful call centre, happy juice drainer of note...anyways, saw a psychologist -- after one session, you clearly depressed...gave me a note for my doctor to fill....long story short....took a change of doctor, and a Why the hell are you on this crap conversation..to get me off the crap, that was so screwing around with my well being....
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I will need to ask her about the doctor.
The_MAC said:
I am talking from personal experience. Someone close to me has a medical condition, which could or could not affect her performance at work. So the company has an official policy where you disclose this to your manager, and there is a formal forum where HR, Manager and a "Doctor" are present. This is obviously done to protect both the company and yourself i.e. disability payouts, insurances, boarding etc.

Even though some people don't consider depression to be a medical condition, but rather a state of mind, I would assume that your friends company has a similar policy (I'm sure its law). I would definitely investigate the option of having a similar interaction with her manager. People tend to not take it too seriously when there is nothing formal on paper.
Click to expand...

Thank you, I have forwarded the link to this thread so she can peruse your suggestions.

:)
 
Robertvv said:
Then all who are fired will claim depression.

My manager says that , it take 30 minutes to appoint a worker, and 10 years to fire a bad worker.

I feel sorry for your friend, but as they say, Africa is a tough country.

She and other people must join group that stand by each other and uplift each other.
Click to expand...

OKAY
 
Update: She had a meeting with her directors who basically told her that they have been 'financing/supporting' her through her downward spiral for the past year and that they aren't interested in her personal life. She can either resign or be fired. One director had the audacity to say 'You won't understand rock bottom until you have been there.'. What a csnt. She isn't sure what to do and I am not sure what to tell her again...
 
Datura said:
Update: She had a meeting with her directors who basically told her that they have been 'financing/supporting' her through her downward spiral for the past year and that they aren't interested in her personal life. She can either resign or be fired. One director had the audacity to say 'You won't understand rock bottom until you have been there.'. What a csnt. She isn't sure what to do and I am not sure what to tell her again...
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If she resigns she gives up her right to compensation for unfair dismissal. She should let them fire her and then take them to the cleaners at the CCMA.
 
deweyzeph said:
If she resigns she gives up her right to compensation for unfair dismissal. She should let them fire her and then take them to the cleaners at the CCMA.
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That's what I was thinking. Just afraid that these fsckers find a leg to stand on through some or other loophole. I suspect that they don't otherwise they would have already fired her. I put it down to sympathy until I heard about the very insensitive remark her one director made especially considering how much he goes on about them being a 'family'. I know where the d00s lives...
 
In the defense of the "small company" its really tough out there right now for companies to even make a profit and stay in business. Carrying dead weight employees that are not performing could cost the entire company their jobs, not just her. By her own admission its her personal life that is the root cause of the depression and also by her admission the job is what is suffering. While I feel for her and recognise how cripling depression can be is her welbeing more important than that of an entire company? What if her salary is the difference between the company limping on vs closing down? Is it fair on her work collegues? I know this sounds harsh but one has to think about other people's issues as well. If the job was a major factor in having caused the depression (ie via abusive managers, unrealistic work pressure, etc) then sure, take them to the cleaners. This sounds a lot more like someone who's personal life is falling apart and its the company that has to pay alongside the employee. I'm not sure I agree with it. It does not feel right that the company just has to swallow the fact that they have to pay someone for doing a lot less.

Just my 2c. Also I would never admit depression to a boss. I know some people that had some really bad things happen that caused depression and by keeping it quiet and managing to fix the circumstances they got over the depression without the company ever realizing. Once a company knows you have ever had depression word gets around and it becomes impossible to ever promote the person as you are terrified the additional stress of the promotion will send them back there. Also if you do have depression sometimes it results in managers overanalysing your performance or treating you differently to other employees that can add its own stress. Seriously, I would think twice.
 
Datura said:
Update: She had a meeting with her directors who basically told her that they have been 'financing/supporting' her through her downward spiral for the past year and that they aren't interested in her personal life. She can either resign or be fired. One director had the audacity to say 'You won't understand rock bottom until you have been there.'. What a csnt. She isn't sure what to do and I am not sure what to tell her again...
Click to expand...

So I'm guessing she hasn't just heard about this and there has been negative performance reviews etc. Also, if she was doing that badly, why did she move?
 
Cius said:
In the defense of the "small company" its really tough out there right now for companies to even make a profit and stay in business. Carrying dead weight employees that are not performing could cost the entire company their jobs, not just her. By her own admission its her personal life that is the root cause of the depression and also by her admission the job is what is suffering. While I feel for her and recognise how cripling depression can be is her welbeing more important than that of an entire company? What if her salary is the difference between the company limping on vs closing down?
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It is not only her personal life. The job is extremely demanding. They are hiring help now that would take off a lot of the pressure off of her but it's too late. I get what you are saying though.

Cius said:
Is it fair on her work collegues? I know this sounds harsh but one has to think about other people's issues as well. If the job was a major factor in having caused the depression (ie via abusive managers, unrealistic work pressure, etc) then sure, take them to the cleaners. This sounds a lot more like someone who's personal life is falling apart and its the company that has to pay alongside the employee. I'm not sure I agree with it. It does not feel right that the company just has to swallow the fact that they have to pay someone for doing a lot less.
Click to expand...

She is still performing and delivering but she is somewhat of a perfectionist and the company has become used to it and so they pile on as much work as she can handle. When things got a bit rough she couldn't handle as much as before. It is fair to say that the work pressure is unrealistic and the treatment abusive to an extent. She does less but still out-performs some of her colleagues. Her clients are still happy but management isn't.

Cius said:
Just my 2c. Also I would never admit depression to a boss. I know some people that had some really bad things happen that caused depression and by keeping it quiet and managing to fix the circumstances they got over the depression without the company ever realizing. Once a company knows you have ever had depression word gets around and it becomes impossible to ever promote the person as you are terrified the additional stress of the promotion will send them back there. Also if you do have depression sometimes it results in managers overanalysing your performance or treating you differently to other employees that can add its own stress. Seriously, I would think twice.
Click to expand...

Sound advice. I wish now that she hadn't said anything.

Thanks for your input :)
 
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