Sometimes an employee is at home because of physical or psychological problems that would not occur if he were working somewhere else. Situational disability is caused by the work itself or the working environment. The solution is to find another job, find another employer or resolve the underlying conflict.
Health complaints
Employees who call in sick because they dislike the work or the working environment usually have real complaints. Headache and migraine, stomach and intestinal complaints. Stress, insomnia and depression can also occur. These are superficial attention seekers who do not ask for a pill or an ointment, but should ring a bell: there is more going on here.
Work environment problems
There are several reasons why an employee can no longer keep up at work. Some are not that hard to imagine. An office where you sit alone without colleagues, and where there is never enough daylight to leave the lights off, is almost an invitation to depression. The solution is practical: a different layout of the workplace, providing more daylight, etc. As a rule, employers are quickly willing to make such simple adjustments, if it is within their capabilities and they recognize the importance. That interest does not only apply to this situation; adjustments can also prevent future complaints.
Problems with the nature of the work
For other employees, the content of the work can become a major problem at some point. A garbage collector who has been doing his job without complaining for twenty years may suddenly (or less suddenly) have great difficulty with his work. This can also apply to a profession where death is constantly around the corner. Experiencing so much suffering over and over again can become too much for someone. These employees will probably continue to have this feeling, other work is desirable for them.
Occupational diseases and allergies
Other work is certainly desirable for physical allergies that may occur sooner or later in a work-related manner. The best-known example of such an occupational disease is hairdresser’s eczema, which forces many hairdressers to stop working. Many other occupational diseases are easy to treat, especially if they have already been discovered in a mild form. Then there are usually sufficient precautions to take. However, a career change for people with complaints directly related to the profession is also worth considering.
Conflict with boss or colleague
That leaves the largest group that stays at home: employees who are in a long-term conflict with their boss or with their colleagues. That is always annoying, and if the issue drags on and on, it can eventually become unbearable. The daily confrontation with that person or persons then becomes too painful. Then there is real work to be done for both the employee himself, the person with whom the conflict is occurring, and the professional help engaged.
Act quickly
Perhaps the first reaction when an employee is just not coping anymore is: just leave him or her alone. However, that can be counterproductive. Someone can increasingly talk himself into his own hole, and also get the impression that no one is interested in his fate. Obviously, pouncing on someone like a tiger as soon as they sit at home is also not a good solution. But a process must be initiated immediately. For example, the company doctor must be informed quickly. He can refer the employee to a specialist, psychologist or physiotherapist.
Make the work situation safe
Ultimately, what matters is that the working situation for the employee becomes safe again. He will sometimes have to call his own for this, without this having any consequences for him. It can also be helpful to give the situation a rest for a while, so that everyone can think clearly again. Two weeks off (with continued payment of wages) is common. If reaching an agreement proves difficult, (larger) companies may decide to separate the warring parties. The employee will then be given another workplace in the company, where he will no longer have contact with the colleague or manager in question.
No victim
Until now, the sick employee has mainly been regarded as a victim. Of course, that is not always the case. If an employee is constantly cutting corners, never takes on an extra task and does not show up during busy times, he should not be surprised that he is being left out. He may also have made mistakes in his contact with colleagues. Perhaps this employee is at home because he has provoked bullying or exclusion through his own behavior. Within a company it is therefore necessary that all parties in a conflict are heard with an open mind. Also the party that initially seems to be the evil genius.