In our Thursday newspaper section, in Dear Abby was an article about mental illness. I usually give it little notice, but not this time, and second because my husband quite literally stuck it under my nose and said, I really think you want to respond to this.
Dear Abby.WORKERS MUST SPEAK WITH ONE VOICE ABOUT DISRUPTIVE WOMAN
Is the title about a woman who is hearing voices while on the job. The boss response to complaining and uneasy co-workers is "Just be quiet and everything will be fine" is not what the co-workers need. Dear Abby also says that the woman is off her medication etc. To see the full article, please go to the link. Below is my sharp response.
Dear Abby in response to
"Our Co-worker hears voices in her head." San Francisco Chronicle and SFGate.com, Thursday October 22, 2009 edition
I am afraid your broad stroked answer may have caused more damage than good. You were right to say "Just Be Quiet" was not a good response. Someone does need to find out if the woman has some issues with her medication. She may not be off her medication, but need adjustment if the job has cause some additional stressful situations for her. Someone needs to be her friend on the job. Its not fair that the co-workers have been put into this position, and the boss is not doing the right thing to push it under the rug. So I would suggest
Uneasy in Ohio be proactive and talk to the woman, maybe look up mental health services to see if there are any training workshops for how to deal with this on the job. At the same time, also make sure things stay safe for all concern even if the boss is not doing her job. Is it more work? Yes, but in the end you could have a very grateful and diligent worker grateful for another chance. Mental Illness like any illness is a complicated disease and to say that someone is off their medication (and imply irresponsibility in the same breath) is to show your ignorance of the situation.
Nancy Louise
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