What:


Depression is an illness that negatively affects how a person feels, the way they think and how they act. It is estimated that if affects 1 in 10 workers.

Why:


Employees with depression could have adverse effects on your company’s performance and productivity in the long run. In the short run, absent employees will need to be covered for their work and responsibilities, with no prediction of when they would be fit to return to work.

Some common signs of depression.

Increasing frequency of sick days


Is your employee visiting the doctor more often but refuse to tell you the issue even under confidence? Does s/he seem to suffer from more than physical pains that you cannot see? Sometimes common colds, flu, stomachaches are symptoms of stress.

 

Loss of motivation


Depression is usually accompanied by a loss of motivation. Does your employee look less enthusiastic at work or when completing his usual duties?

 

Changes in social behaviour in the workplace


Depression sufferers develop a change in social behaviour. Those who are sociable withdraw from their friends and colleagues. Those who used to be passive could become aggressive and outspoken all of a sudden.

 

Incomplete duties or tasks

Depression sometimes results in memory loss. Is your employee forgetting some project deadlines or fails to accomplish assigned duties on time?

 

Fatigue, tiredness, excessive yawning

Lethargy is one symptom of depression. Does your employee look well rested or does s/he look more tired than before, with circles under eyes? Does s/he yawn excessively at work?

 

Increasing number of absent days for other reasons

Is your colleague taking more leave days than usual with increasing frequency, citing other reasons than sick leave? Or does s/he call in the morning with an excuse they could not arrive at work that day?  This could flag a possibility of disinterest in work.