Case study 1: case management and better understanding of behavioural difficulties
The manager was looking for advice on how to manage the employee, especially in light of the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) and pressure from his shift manager who felt the way she behaved was unacceptable. There was a perception that she did not really have a disability and was using it as a tool/excuse.
- The employee knew how to work and maintain all the machines and carry out manual sorting duties. When working effectively, she could perform her duties.
- When she became upset or frustrated she was unproductive (often spending an hour at a time out of the office).
- She could be disruptive to colleagues and rude to managers who were finding her behaviour unacceptable.
- Dismissal was being considered but managers were worried about how to manage the process and the impact of the DDA. Even the employee stated that management could not do anything as she is protected by the DDA.
- To complicate matters, she had been previously dismissed, but reinstated. Paperwork could not be found to identify the reasons for initial dismissal.
How Minty & Friend helped
- Minty & Friend liaised with the individual and the manager to try to establish what was required to identify the employees learning difficulty.
- Due to the employee's communication difficulties, Minty & Friend met with her, her manager and trade union representative to discuss the situation.
- A follow up meeting was held when Minty & Friend talked to the employee about our recommendations and to explain that the DDA did not excuse her from all behaviour such as talking to managers inappropriately.
- The line manager reported that it was the calmest he had seen the employee.
- After implementing some of Minty & Friend report recommendations, the employee's manager noted improved performance but the verbal issues were not completely gone.
- Minty & Friend therefore has recommended an assessment from an Occupational Psychologist and has sourced the funding from the local JobCentre and under the Access to Work scheme.
- The manager has become reluctant and difficult in continuing to manage the employee but Minty & Friend's persistence has secured a provisional date in February.
- Minty & Friend will attend this meeting, at the request of the Occupational Psychologist who stated Minty & Friend appear to be the only one driving this forward.
Benefits to the client
- Cost saving by reducing management time taken up by situation.
- Access to work funding.
- Employee working more effectively.
- Employee is much calmer and communicates better.
- Better morale all round
Added value
- Reduced risk of DDA tribunal - thousands of pounds saved.
- Reduced disruption to colleagues.
- The client has the knowledge and peace of mind that it is being case managed and progressed
