Health problems and reintegration after absence

Initial situation

Mr A. was not feeling well. He appears restless, agitated and tense, and has been suffering from sleep deprivation for weeks. When he wakes up regularly during the night, he is "fully at work". However, he has been unable to meet the demands of his job for some time. He has no appetite, feels empty and listless. He has not enjoyed life for a long time and suffers from existential fears. His daughter is worried because he has changed so much since the death of his partner last year. He finds it embarrassing to disclose his condition to his employer and therefore considers such a meeting unthinkable.

Proitera’s assignment

Mr A. does not know what to do. He suffers from insomnia and is worried because he can no longer perform at work. He asks Proitera for advice.

Proitera’s intervention

Through counselling, Mr A. realises that he is going through a major grieving process that is overwhelming him. He is relieved to hear that this can happen to anyone who loses someone close to them. The counsellor describes the stages of grief according to Kübler Ross and explains that saying goodbye takes time and requires personal forbearance. Mr A. is now able to understand his own actions, which he often found incomprehensible, and accept reactions that he previously considered ‘unmanly’. He realises that his declining performance at work is understandable. He now wishes he had talked to his supervisor about his condition earlier. That would have spared him the complaints. These insights are an important first step in recognising that he cannot cope with his fears without taking time out and that he cannot compensate for his exhaustion by working harder. Performance is required at work, and he wants to get back to it as soon as possible. He agrees to talk to his supervisor and see his family doctor. With support from all sides, a hospital stay is planned. Mr A. can now go ahead with this without feeling guilty, as he realises that it is the right step for him, his daughter and his employer.

Result

After five weeks, Mr A. returns to work. He is reintegrated gradually and his workload is increased step by step. This enables him to apply the insights he has gained both in his private life and at work. Mr A. is once again very active in his free time and has rediscovered photography as a hobby. His manager is delighted to have his valued employee back, healthy and motivated. Mr A. is extremely grateful to his employer for supporting him through this difficult time.