It takes a lot of courage for an employee to disclose they have a mental health condition. Navigate the conversation carefully. Start by thanking them for telling you, but don’t make a big deal about the disclosure. It’s important to treat it like you would any other medical issue.
It’s important to keep in mind that the employee likely had to overcome a lot of fear to talk with you about this topic.”
Source: Harvard Business Review, February 23, 2021. Link.
Principles to Remember:
Do:
- Follow the person’s lead in terms of what they want to share.
- Think carefully about what type of flexibility you can offer them.
- Make clear that you may need to discuss the situation with HR, and therefore may not be able to keep the conversation confidential.
Don’t:
- Make a big deal about the disclosure — it’s important to normalize the conversation.
- Overpromise what accommodations you’ll be able to give the person until you’ve had time to think it through and talk to HR.
- Hide your own experience with mental health challenges, especially if you’re a senior leader.
Make yourself tell-able”