How to Manage an Employee with Depression

Depression is the leading cause of disability worldwide. Yet despite its enormous and growing toll, many employers take an ad hoc approach to handling depression among employees. Many managers become aware of mental health issues only when they investigate why a team member is performing poorly. A better scenario would be if employees felt empowered to report a mental health problem and ask for a reasonable accommodation so that their manager can intervene to minimize the damage to the organization and help the employees return as quickly as possible to full health. A first step for managers is to educate themselves about the disorder. Other interventions, such as allowing a flexible work schedule, simplifying work demands, and minimizing negative criticism can help depressed employees manager the disorder and return to full mental health more quickly.