Employee looks tired

[Iz30]

I saw a junior employee for the first time in a year or so last week (my company has been WFH throughout so we have only seen each other on Zoom and the like). The employee has worked hard in that time, but is just off a holiday. They looked terrible however - dark circles under eyes and very pale. I am their direct line manager and I am considering raising it with them. But they are not a very open person and I do not want to pry. Workwise, the employee seems the same, if a little disengaged (but part of that might be due to having a lighter workload now). I am just concerned about heading off a potential problem before it becomes a real problem.

As you're their manager, and it's been 12m since you saw them in person, could you do a general catch up meeting with them and see if you can draw them out a little? Ultimately if you ask if they need support with anything and they say no, you may have to leave them to it and see what happens.

If they are a software developer it may just be that they've been essentially nocturnal during lockdown and normal office hours are screwing with their sleep pattern

Oh I’d think I would have to have a catch up with them but it’s thinking of a way that they wouldn’t feel pressured …. so perhaps on one of their wfh days via teams or a coffee - and not just them - do it with the others too like a sort of back into tbr office welfare check?

I am pale and have naturally occurring dark circles under my eyes. Did she have the same features before? My eyes are deep set and unless I have tear trough fillers even the best concealer does nothing to help. I agree with a pp that a general catch up is a good plan.