Mental health & work

Me2you

Why aren’t people satisfied that moving about at work is the cause of his anxiety?

pmduk

Me2you wrote: »

Why aren’t people satisfied that moving about at work is the cause of his anxiety?

Because it's very easy to identify the wrong thing as causing anxiety?

KiKi

Me2you wrote: »

Why aren’t people satisfied that moving about at work is the cause of his anxiety?

'Moving at work' is unlikely to be the underlying cause of the anxiety.

The actual cause is more likely to be struggling with change, or finding it difficult to learn new things quickly, or perhaps interacting with different people. The fact that he's then moved about at work exacerbates those anxieties.

Hopefully he'll be able to sort something with work that allows him more stability, however, I'd still suggest that he spends time understanding why moving at work causes anxiety - otherwise similar situations will have the same effect, and the more he is able to create coping mechanisms for that, the better off he'll be from a mental health perspective.

Fireflyaway

Work takes up such a huge part of your life. I think what you have done is the sensible approach and if the company can function with your husband remaining in one location they should make that happen. If they agree, they need to take steps to make the agreement known so a new manager for example doesn't mistakenly move your husband again!
Employers have a duty to protect your well-being ( within limitations. The business still has to operate and some changes might not be possible) but if your husband is getting very upset by something that doesn't bother most people maybe something like CBT might help?

[Deleted User]

dumbo wrote: »

He has not missed a day due to sickness in over 4 years & does not want to be off work with mental health problems as the problem will still be there when he returns.

I used to be of the mindset you went to work regardless, after a 6 year spotless record I've changed. (it never helped reference wise and I think actually all I ever done was do myself a massive dis-service in some situations) for I never appreciated in the return to work form, it has to ask if you have any problems with home or work.

Slightly different (I cannot do the job) even eventually being threatened with a protected chat with HR - I thought thank goodness, enough is enough if it comes to it. Nothing is worth getting into a state over.

Me2you

Again, why do people think that having change at work is the cause of his depression? Just because it seems like a small change to most people, it’s an issue to him. No change at work leads to a happier him.

lincroft1710

Me2you wrote: »

Just because it seems like a small change to most people, it’s an issue to him. No change at work leads to a happier him.

The problem may be that the employer needs to move people around because of business needs. If the employer can avoid moving him it would obviously be good, but there may be a good reason (in the employer's eyes) to move him rather than another employee. He may be less or more able than other employees so making him the obvious choice to move.

My fear is that if the employer is unsympathetic and OP's husband refuses to move jobs, the employer will find a way to manage him out without there being a recourse to unfair dismissal.

jobbingmusician

Does your OH generally struggle with change? I just wonder if he might need routine if he is a person with undiagnosed autism. (Just an off the wall theory, but it would be good to know if change at home causes stress as well.)

swingaloo

Sounds exactly like the job I have just retired from. I was employed as an operative which meant I could be picking, re-stocking, booking goods in, filling shelving, working on dispatch, making boxes, dealing with return etc but I would never know which department I was on until the start of shift.

They move people around depending on the needs of the day, if they need 18 pickers the fastest 18 on that shift would be selected and so on.
Sometimes people are moved around to give them experience on different areas of the processing. I think its just part of warehouse work.


It can be frustrating as you learn what to do on a department and then get moved but its part of multiskilling the workforce.

Me2you

Yes I understand. It might be worth him looking for another job or at least the company trying to accommodate him.