QUESTION: Our human resources director has been using prescription painkillers for a very long time. “Lisa” often appears foggy and dazed and occasionally falls asleep at her computer. She readily admits to taking this medication at work, so she’s not trying to hide anything. Since Lisa and I report to the same vice president, I have previously made him aware of this issue. However, he seems reluctant to address it. Do you have any suggestions?
ANSWER: Your vice president either fails to grasp the seriousness of the problem or isn’t sure what to do about it. Under normal circumstances, you could seek guidance from human resources, but that option is obviously off the table. Therefore, the only alternative is to have a more emphatic talk with your hesitant boss.
To emphasise the gravity of the situation, ask some other concerned managers to join you in meeting with him. Going as a group will emphasise the widespread impact of Lisa’s impairment, thereby making it harder to ignore. Since legal aspects will need to be considered, be sure to include an attorney in this conversation.
Prepare for the discussion by creating a detailed summary of the business risks posed by a dysfunctional HR department. Even if Lisa has a competent staff, a stupefied department head can’t provide effective leadership or make sound decisions, so your boss needs to recognise the potential liabilities.
Once you have the vice president’s attention, give him contact information for some qualified professional resources.
When addressing drug and alcohol issues, managers should always consult the experts before taking action. Employee assistance programmes and community mental health centres are usually good sources of help.
When talking with employees like Lisa, managers must understand that their role is to discuss job performance, not substance abuse. They should focus on work behaviour and avoid making assumptions or accusations. Suggesting resources can sometimes be appropriate, but making a diagnosis is not. Fortunately, when people realise their job may be at risk, they are often motivated to confront the underlying problem.
A personal connection
Q: My supervisor is very cute, and I recently realised that I have a serious crush on him. Because we’re both from South Korea, we have shared values and a similar background. Neither of us is married, and we have a lot of common interests. We are also about the same age. I just learned that he will be returning to Korea in a few weeks. Since I know my feelings are real, do you think I should tell him?
A: While confessing to your crush might be premature, you can certainly tell this cute supervisor that you’d like to stay in touch. Because he will no longer be your boss, there’s no reason to avoid a personal connection.
Perhaps you could start by asking him to lunch, then suggesting possible ways to maintain communication once he leaves. If he seems equally interested, this might be the first step towards a lasting relationship. But if not, at least you gave it a try.
- Marie G McIntyre is a workplace coach and the author of Secrets to Winning at Office Politics. Send in questions and get free coaching tips at http://www.yourofficecoach.com, or follow her on Twitter @officecoach
