WWYD - colleague behaving strangely

[newmanagerwwyd]

Name changed for this thread, more of a WWYD than an AIBU.

I've recently been promoted to head of department at a school, not in the UK. This is my first time doing any kind of management.

We have a new colleague with us, he doesn't have much experience but seems to work hard and wants to learn. I noticed immediately that he displays some odd behaviour, for example he repeats himself often and I sometimes have to say things several times before he gets the point. Yesterday however, he suddenly started repeating the same phrase over and over again while a group of us were chatting in the office, we stopped and asked if he was ok, he shook his head and seemed confused but after a few minutes he rejoined the conversation as though nothing had happened.

My first question is - has anyone seen this type of behaviour before, and could it be something potentially dangerous for someone working with children? Secondly, should I ask him about it directly from the perspective of supporting him?

I should add that he isn't solely responsible for any classes, my first concern is the students but I also want to do the right thing for everyone involved.

Could he be having a seizure?

Epilepsy?

Could be a type of epilepsy?

Could it be OCD?
I used to manage a lady who suffered from this and she had to read things over and over again before she could put the paper in the confidential waste bin. We just used to allow her half an hour at the end of the day when no more customers so she could do this.
Are you his manager? If so you should be speaking to him and consult his HR file?

I had a PGCE student who had a range of concerning behaviours, including something similar. I took it to the university out of concern for the students. He then attempted to blame me for everything.

If his name is Shaun be concerned...

Also no I wouldn’t ask him directly - id speak to your manager.

It could be a number of things but it’s not appropriate for you to ask him questions pertaining to his health. It needs to be raised to whomever is above you both.

Epilepsy isn't something is considered- I'll do some reading about this.

I am his line manager, yes. He's hired through a temp agency who are notorious for not doing things properly so I doubt they even know much about him. We're also not in the UK so we don't have the same level of rules and regulations related to occupational health.

Tourette syndrome? Sufferers can repeat phrases constantly.

Tourette's was also my first thought, although it's the first time I've seen him do it, he's been with us about 3 weeks.

Poor guy.

Could it be aspbergers? I have a close family friend who has this and repeats phrases numerous times. We don't say anything to her as we know what's going on.

*aspergers

Is it affecting his work? If not I'd say to ignore it. Not sure if it's the same where you are but we have to disclose medical issues to the Head on application but not to head of department.

Check with HR or his manager if that is not you and just ask if there is anything you need to be aware of to support him. If they can't help you then ask him about it but keep it very much to the "I've noticed X, how can we best support you?" line to make him open up if there is something.

It might be that he is just a bit odd.

I used to know someone who did the same thing repeating sentences over and over, he has OCD

Aspergers sounds the most likely, but OCD is also possible. I can only speculate without asking him directly but as another poster said, I'm worried that's not appropriate.

HR won't know, he's hired through an agency

He's probably got autism...it shows more when your stressed.

Ask him. You have line management responsibility for him and so a duty of care for him and his pupils. Be direct.

My FIL did this when he had a TIA leading to a stroke. We didn’t realise until a few days later when his arm lost feeling and they said it had happened a few days ago and then it clicked. But I don’t know in this case.

Why would repeating a phrase make him dangerous to children?

Of course you must ask him about it - parents will ask you and expect you to know.

Why would repeating a phrase make him dangerous to children?

It wouldn’t. However absence seizures might if he’s driving/demonstrating lab stuff etc etc.

It does sound like an involuntary tic to me. I think you need to question the agency and then approach him directly and sympathetically making it clear that you are there to discuss strategies to support him rather than accusatory.

I understand you aren't entirely comfortable with his employment at the moment but it may turn out effectively ending his contract for him to seek help may be the most supportive thing to do.

Why would repeating a phrase make him dangerous to children?
I don't think its been suggested that he's dangerous has it? But if he works directly with them it could be quite confusing and frightening for them if he does that.

Also the not seeming to hear until something has been said to him several times could be a concern, e.g. if a child is trying ask him to come because someone has fallen off a chair and isn't moving.

It would concern me OP, because you don't know whats causing it, and after this short a time observing him, you cant know if there could be more odd behaviour that you haven't seen yet.

The OP asked if it could make him dangerous chameleon.

It didn't sound like an absence seizure to me Kochab but I see what you mean.

I would think epilepsy if he seems confused. He may not have been diagnosed though. Some seizures are very hard to spot, even for the person having them.