An ADHD Employee

Our client’s supervisor, Karen, called stating that she was about to pull out her hair due to frustrations with an employee. She was in charge of the financial department which had to run well and all details correct. Plus, she cared about her employee. What a dilemma! The employee failed to maintain concentration; could not remain on task; had difficulty multi-tasking; tended to be impulsively irritable to a point of over-reaction; disorganized; and at times very moody. Karen was at her wits end; had tried everything she knew how to tray; and finally contacted EAP once the issue became disruptive to other co-workers.

It was time for us as her EAP to don our super-hero costumes and perform nothing short of a miracle, because, Adult Attention Deficit Disorder is very real and difficult to control or ‘correct’. As stated by David Marks, PhD, “Adults with ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) should not be perceived as grown-ups who continue to display maladaptive externalizing behaviors, but rather should be recognized as a cohort of individuals who, by definition, have struggled with enduring psychosocial difficulties.” You see, Karen was beginning to take this as a direct challenge to her supervisory authority since the employee seemed to repeat the same mistakes.

So, while dressed in our Super-hero EAP costumes, how could we help Karen? First, we would help her understand that the challenge is not directed towards her but this employees’ ongoing struggle to keep in control. Second, we would remind Karen of her supervisory boundaries. Karen’s focus is on job performance issues as a supervisor not the clinical welfare of an employee. Third, praise Karen for contacting EAP. Supervisors cannot be expected to ‘know it all’ when understanding employee problems. Plus, supervisory available time is short. Let EAP sort out the complexity of an employee’s problem. Finally, allow EAP super-heroes to do their work. EAP will touch base with Karen later with non-confidential information regarding general progress and updates.

Karen still has to face difficult decisions because certain disorders complicate specific job duties. But she’s not alone and if the employee needs to reassignment, then the EAP can assist. Adult ADD is a challenging worksite issue but it does not have to reach serious levels. Earlier assistance is always preferable.


Submitted by CorpCare Associates