Homework 6

DealingwithaBipolarEmployee.pptx

Dealing with a Bipolar Employee Student Name Institution Affiliation

Living with bipolar disorder may be extremely difficult, and learning how to manage a bipolar employee can appear to be a difficult challenge to accomplish.

There is an experienced mood swings that include quick to anger and cases of acute depression (Buchbinder, 2013)

The depression takes a long period of time.

Introduction

Bipolar disorder is characterized by dramatic swings in mood, and sufferers may experience acute depression during the 'depressive' phase, as well as increased mood during the'manic' phase. These changes in mood endure for a longer period of time and are significantly more dramatic than those experienced by the majority of the population.

Employees with bipolar disorder are likely to be stigmatized in the workplace.

Employees would have more cases of absenteeism as they receive medication and hospitalization to stabilize symptoms (Stuart, 2021).

Reported cases of conflicts might arise when employees are not aware of the condition of a colleague.

Impact of Bipolar Disorder in the Workplace

Individuals may have a return to their baseline state with no or limited symptoms present in between these episodes. Individuals who experience an episode may require time away from work during a hospitalization until their symptoms have stabilized to the point where they can perform well in the job again after the episode. In today's society, mental illness like bipolar disorder is typically stigmatized, and employers frequently pass judgment on employees who need to take time off work to receive treatment for a mental health condition. While this may seem like a distinction, in reality, there is no difference between the necessity of taking time off work to allow your body to recover from the illness and the necessity of taking time off work to recover from a manic or depressed episode. Bipolar disorder in the workplace makes an employee have mood swings that makes them become angry easily and even impatient causing misunderstanding.

The employee is expected to approach the supervisor, manager and few colleagues that he/she trusts (Arthi, 2019).

The employee needs to report to them about her condition especially when the symptoms worsened.

The employee should not fear asking for help.

Employee with Bipolar Disorder Behavior in the Workplace

It has been found that people with bipolar disorder tend to handle their disorder in one of three ways at work: notifying their bosses, telling their coworkers, or not telling anybody at all. The best way the employee should consider informing supervisor and colleagues in order to get the necessary support whenever the symptoms becomes severe and seek the necessary help. The employee should be free and confident in sharing any information about the condition to the supervisor or colleague to get support needed.

The employees with bipolar disorder are worth being hired in the organization because they also have the skills and expertise needed (Arthi, 2019).

When they are offered the necessary support, the employees would be productive in the organization and can become a significant asset.

Employees with Bipolar Disorder should not be Discriminated

An organization should consider choosing employees based on their merit and avoid discriminating them because of having the bipolar disorder. The disorder might not cause much impact in the workplace when the employees are given the necessary support to deliver. The support of the employees to manage their symptoms and behavior result to their productivity in the workplace.

The employees battle with mood swings in the workplace that might interfere with their performance.

The employees might be overburdened by the symptoms where they may not containing leading to hospitalization (Johnson et al., 2020).

Lack of attention and concentration to a task.

Challenges of Bipolar Disorder Employees

The common belief is that bipolar personnel are unable of performing at the same level as their non-disordered counterparts. It's a complete and utter misunderstanding of the facts. Mood fluctuations are a normal part of life for bipolar persons. Bipolar employees may be unable to function well in both their personal and professional lives because of their disease. While this may be true, it is just as conceivable that a bipolar person (especially if the correct drugs are taken) can attain great levels of performance — levels that they would not have been able to achieve if they had a more "regular" disposition. Bipolar disorder's highs and lows can be controlled with medication. Bipolar employees' work will be negatively affected if they don't take medication to control their mood fluctuations, which make it difficult to focus on the task at hand.

Understanding on ways of supporting employees with bipolar disorder is important in making them perform to their highest potential (Johnson et al., 2020).

The employer should make sure that the supervisors, managers and the human resource are educated on the symptoms of bipolar disorder.

There is the need for implementation of employees assistance program that helps in managing the bipolar disorder.

Employer Contribution to the Productivity of Employee with Bipolar Disorder

Despite the limitations that a person with bipolar disorder may experience, there is no mistaking the fact that these individuals may be an asset to any company, just like any other employee. Understanding how to support bipolar disorder sufferers and creating opportunity for employees to reach their full potential would benefit organizations. Make sure that all supervisors, managers, and human resources employees are aware of the symptoms of bipolar disorder and how to identify it. EAP and mental health services should be encouraged and supported by employers. Organize programs for mental health and stress reduction in the workplace through HR or the Employee Assistance Program (EAP).

There is the need for employer to fund the program in order to serve the interests of bipolar disorder employees and make their contribution significant (Stuart, 2021).

The EAP program would ensure that all the staff understand on how to handle the employee with bipolar disorder and becomes a norm.

The culture of supporting the employees with bipolar disorder helps minimize the stigma associated with mental illnesses

Implementation of Employees Assistance Program

The approach of promoting the implementation of the employees assistance program is a way of making sure that the employees are well managed and are capable to deliver based on their skills and expertise. The EAP is an important program that ensure that employees are given the necessary support through moral, social and offering the needed resources to be productive in the organization. The culture of supporting an employee helps in ending the stigma against mental health patients and promote accommodating them.

As a leader, experiencing an employee with bipolar disorder improves my understanding and appreciation of diversity in the workplace (Stuart, 2021).

I would learn on the ways of assisting the employee with bipolar disorder to be productive through regular interaction and listening to them.

Developing the accommodative culture and avoid discriminating employees with bipolar disorder and be compliant to the law.

Leadership Skills

As a leader, I would use the opportunity of working with an employee with disability to learn on how to work in a diverse workplace and ensure that the productivity is at the peak. At this point, I would be supporting the employees by learning about their symptoms and assistance needed for him/her to deliver quality. Accepting employees with bipolar disorder in the workplace is challenging but it is within the law not to discriminate.

Clear communication on ways of handling employees with bipolar disorder.

Awareness and educational programs on bipolar disorder in the workplace (Stuart, 2021).

Sensitizing those with bipolar disorder to come out and embrace it and learn to live and work with the challenge and this would help them showcase their talents and be more embraced.

Leadership in the Future

Sensitizing those with bipolar disorder to come out and embrace it and learn to live and work with the challenge and this would help them showcase their talents and be more embraced. Awareness and educational programs on bipolar disorder in the workplace.

An employee need to develop a culture of following a routine that minimize the number of possible anxiety-inducing decisions that might trigger mood swings.

A routine is needed in addition to a long schedule especially for employee with bipolar disorder in a leadership position to give more time to junior staff and avoid disappointments (Stuart, 2021).

An Employee with bipolar disorder should try to follow a routine

An employee with bipolar disorder need to set a routine that guides operations. An employee should not have to make as many decisions that could be stressful. A clear strategy and less time worrying or procrastinating may help and get things done more quickly and efficiently. People with and without bipolar disorder can profit from these advantages. If you have a job, figuring out what kind of schedule works best for you is a smart place to begin.

In the case study, Maggie was promoted to lead other staff and failed to meet her expected schedule leading to anger and development of bipolar disorder symptoms (Buchbinder, 2013).

There is the need for the employee to be realistic about the tasks he/she is allocated and be open about promotions that might trigger his/her emotions.

Setting realistic targets and timeline makes it easy for the employees with bipolar disorder to deliver quality.

Being Realistic

An employee with bipolar disorder should not feel guilty when things in the workplace did no go as expected and should consider developing schedule that is realistic and achievable to avoid pressure that comes with handling urgent tasks creating anxiety. An employee should develop his/her own expectations that would contribute to the success.

The manager should consider managing the employee productivity by rewarding small wins that develops the morale to put more effort.

The approach of appreciating little achievements makes the employee remain positive always and minimize negative emotions that is likely to interfere with his/her performances (Winderl, 2021).

Celebrating Small Successes

The role of the management is to make sure that the work of the employee with bipolar disorder is monitored and tracked in order to make sure that their productivity is improved. The approach helps in supporting the employee by identifying where the weaknesses are and provide the necessary solutions. The approach of appreciating little achievements makes the employee remain positive always and minimize negative emotions that is likely to interfere with his/her performances.

An employee with emotional disorder is expected to create time of engaging in activities that he/she likes and enjoy to avoid burnout that might trigger mood swings (Winderl, 2021).

The employer should consider developing a flexible schedule for employees living with bipolar disorder in order to make their contribution to the company significant.

Creating time for fun and recreation

There is a possibility of burnout for employees with bipolar disorder when exposed to too much work without breaks. A time of recreation is necessary where they would minimize stress and symptoms like anger. Remote working should be introduced in order to create a sense of flexibility that minimizes the pressure that the employee might encounter.

The employer should put in place resources necessary in training all the employees on ways of managing their anxiety and conflicts.

The approach apply also to those living with bipolar disorder for them to manage their anxiety that is likely to cause conflict in the workplace.

There is the need to train the employees with bipolar disorder on ways of containing their anger to be able to work collaboratively with the others (Winderl, 2021).

Training the employees on anxiety and conflict management

Almost no one is productive when they feel extremely worried. Just go back to the last time you attempted working on a project while coping with an avalanche of worried thoughts. You can’t avoid these feelings altogether, but you can make your emotions feel a little less all-consuming. The next time your thoughts swirl with fear about deadlines, the pandemic, or you know, life, try a few grounding exercises to bring you back to the present. There is the need to train the employees with bipolar disorder on ways of containing their anger to be able to work collaboratively with the others.

Employees with bipolar disorder should be treated well as the other employees and given support that would make them productive as the others.

Bipolar disorder is a condition that affect the moods of the employee and they become anxious and also might be quick to anger that affects their productivity (Johnson et al., 2020).

The cooperation between the management, employer and the employee would result to productivity in the workplace.

Conclusion

The employer is expected to put in place resources that supports the employee to cooperate with colleagues through training in controlling the mood swings to promote teamwork in the workplace. Bipolar disorder is a condition that affect the moods of the employee and they become anxious and also might be quick to anger that affects their productivity.

Arthi, D. (2019). Workplace Attitude of Employees with Disabilities towards Building Workplace Inclusiveness. International Journal Of Research In Arts And Science, 5(Special Issue), 102-106. https:// doi.org/10.9756/bp2019.1002/09

Buchbinder, S. B. (2013). Cases in Health Care Management. Jones & Bartlett Learning. https://bookshelf.vitalsource.com/books/9781284084900

Johnson, W., Fields, S., & Bluett, E. (2020). Bipolar disorder: Managing the peaks and valleys. The International Journal Of Psychiatry In Medicine, 55(5), 349-356. https:// doi.org/10.1177/0091217420952573

Stuart, A. (2021). Managing Bipolar Disorder at Work. WebMD. Retrieved 6 November 2021, from https://www.webmd.com/bipolar-disorder/guide/managing-bipolar-disorder-at-work-job-performance-tips.

Winderl, A. (2021). 6 Pandemic Productivity Tips for People With Bipolar Disorder. SELF. Retrieved 6 November 2021, from https://www.self.com/story/bipolar-disorder-productivity-tips.

References