Talking to an employee who is burnt out -- WWYD?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Stop taking advantage of her! Just because she always stepped up doesn't mean she liked it or doesn't notice that other people aren't put in the same position. Talk to her as previously suggested. Also if she is single and without children, that doesn't mean she should be expected to pick up the slack for the moms and dads....

Agree. Am surprised she hasn't brought this up, or a raise/promotion.
Any way you can rotate assignments or coverage areas to freshen up people's skills, work?

[Anonymous]

Didn't read all responses so sorry if redundant, but-Why don't you just ask her how it's going? Maybe she had a bad break up or maybe someone in her family is sick, or maybe she is sick. Maybe you can't fix what the problem is, maybe you'll just have to slightly adjust your expectations.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Didn't read all responses so sorry if redundant, but-Why don't you just ask her how it's going? Maybe she had a bad break up or maybe someone in her family is sick, or maybe she is sick. Maybe you can't fix what the problem is, maybe you'll just have to slightly adjust your expectations.

Why do women treat each other like this? The woman is no longer responding well to being worked like a plow horse, ergo something must be wrong in her personal life? Lord in heaven, I thought we'd gotten beyond that kind of logic. Next you'll be saying she must be cranky because it's "that time of the month"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Didn't read all responses so sorry if redundant, but-Why don't you just ask her how it's going? Maybe she had a bad break up or maybe someone in her family is sick, or maybe she is sick. Maybe you can't fix what the problem is, maybe you'll just have to slightly adjust your expectations.

Why do women treat each other like this? The woman is no longer responding well to being worked like a plow horse, ergo something must be wrong in her personal life? Lord in heaven, I thought we'd gotten beyond that kind of logic. Next you'll be saying she must be cranky because it's "that time of the month"

What are you talking about? People have stress in their personal lives all the time. When my mother was dying I didn't want to be in the office but I didn't want to get into discussing it and nobody asked. How do YOU know she isn't dealing with something unrelated to work? That's not anti feminist, it can happen to anybody. I have no idea why you wanted to introduce the time of the month into the discussion. That was a complete non sequitur.

[Anonymous]

OP, did you talk to her? What did you say and how did it go?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It sounds like you are a shitty employer and manager. Do not suggest she take a vacation. It sounds forced. I'd be worried my job was on the line. But that is not the case, in fact just the opposite. You have run this woman into the ground for 5 years and she has gone above and beyond for you with little complaint. You no longer challenge her and have become complacent. Promote her, increase her pay, give her a new office and a big ass bonus and stop treating her like a slave.

+1

+2. Promote her. That is why she styled late for 5 years.

[Anonymous]

Yep...Are you my boss? I am your employee. I'm the one work is always dumped on because I get it done. I am mad because I haven't been promoted in a long time. Please don't tell me to take a vacation. If you do, I'll think you are telling me that I should look for another job. If you gavr me some help relief, I'd be glad to stay a vacation. Thanks Your Employee

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Stop giving her too much work!
Rearrange her work load. Try to utilize the less busy people more

+1 I think the way you are looking at this is evidence of poor management on your part. You see her being burnt out as her fault, when it's clear from your post that you have thrown more work her way, expected her to do more, and it doesn't sound like you've given her a raise. that's how people get burnt out -- they start to see that they do 20 percent more work than their coworkers and they are never compensated for it.

So, yeah, telling her "you should take a vacation, you seem burnt out" is going to come off as not only offensive but a statement that her being burnt out is her fault.

The first thing you should do is offer her a bonus or a financial reward for going above and beyond what others are doing for the last 5 years. I promise you, if you flat out give her a raise or a bonus (without asking for more than she's doing), you will suddenly see a peppier employee.

another option is to offer her more vacation time AS a bonus, i.e. "for so long, you have gone above and beyond, we'd like to give you an extra week of vacation as a bonus, but you have to use it by the end of the year.

If you frame it as rewarding her for all of her extra work, she will feel appreciated. but if you suggest that for all of her extra work all of these years, all she gets is criticism now that she's doing the same amount as her coworkers, then you'll only encourage her to find a new job, one that will reward her for her work.