How to manage someone with anxiety

[user8907654]

After some advice on how to manage someone with anxiety after cancer (don't have a OH department).
We work in retail and she told me today that she is struggling with working on the tills and prefers to do the jobs in the back shop. My problem is that other staff also like to alternate their jobs and don't want to constantly be on the tills.
How do i deal with this in the fairest way?

It’s a tricky one but I think it’s reasonable to make adjustments given the circumstances for a limited time, if you can accommodate it. In this case I would suggest that she be allowed to work through the back for a period of time, say 4-6 weeks, and then gradually cut that back over the next 4-6 weeks until she’s back working in the same way as everyone else.
Ultimately you need her to be doing the same job as the rest of the staff whilst being understanding of her personal circumstances - and hopefully the rest of the staff will understand.

@SirChenjins

It’s a tricky one but I think it’s reasonable to make adjustments given the circumstances for a limited time, if you can accommodate it. In this case I would suggest that she be allowed to work through the back for a period of time, say 4-6 weeks, and then gradually cut that back over the next 4-6 weeks until she’s back working in the same way as everyone else. Ultimately you need her to be doing the same job as the rest of the staff whilst being understanding of her personal circumstances - and hopefully the rest of the staff will understand.

@SirChenjins she has been back in the business for 8 months now and has built up her confidence to start going back on the tills, but recently she said she has been struggling with been on them again. So she was doing the same job as everyone else but has now said she doesn't think she can do the tills for a while.

Has she explained why she has lost confidence in being on the till. Is she anxious dealing with the public or feels jittery and overwhelmed dealing with people and scared if making mistakes. She has been through a life changing experience and might be feeling depressed and wants to hide away somewhere quiet. Pp idea is good, see if she can manage on the tills after a few weeks with someone supporting her and maybe take over from her if she struggles.

Do you need her to go on the tills? If it’s decided that she is able to work behind the scenes from now on, that has nothing to do with other staff. Maybe reassess her job description?

I agree with making adjustments with a time limit. And explain this too her and give her a short period on the till to begin with and build it up. Most colleagues will be sympathetic in this case I would think.

@FleasInMyKnees

Has she explained why she has lost confidence in being on the till. Is she anxious dealing with the public or feels jittery and overwhelmed dealing with people and scared if making mistakes. She has been through a life changing experience and might be feeling depressed and wants to hide away somewhere quiet. Pp idea is good, see if she can manage on the tills after a few weeks with someone supporting her and maybe take over from her if she struggles.

@FleasInMyKnees She feels overwhelmed dealing with people and worries thats she will make a mistake.

Oh dear poor woman, it must be hard for her, is she getting support and perhaps counselling. Her confidence has taken a big knock. Can she work at the back until she feels more able to be out the front, does she have to be on the tills, is it a big shop.

If she’s a good worker then I’d support her - if you can offer her support through Occ Health or similar then that might help, and a temporary adjustment till she gets back on her feet seems reasonable. I’ve never had a cancer diagnosis but I imagine it’s terrifying and probably the worry of it all is starting to replay. My concern would be that I lose a good member of staff for something that’s possible to accommodate. Have you asked her what her thoughts are on what she would like in the short/long term whilst still being fair to the others? Very often giving your staff a voice in things that affect them helps massively in coming to a workable solution.

Can she do her stint on the tills when it's quieter or when there's lots of staff to have tills open, so not at the pressure points like over lunches? Although of course that's when you need hands on the floor I guess.

I'm vaguely remembering my teen job in retail and thinking how dull being on tills was for the first and last hour of the day and how slowly it went, so if I was bored by extension that must have meant it was quieter, which might suit this lady as another way to help her back in?