My Colleague Seems Totally Checked Out. I’m Afraid Saying Something Could Be Legally Dicey.
A long-tenured employee named Amy has shown signs of declining performance, including forgetfulness and repeated requests for information, raising concerns among colleagues. While Amy has previously expressed worries about a family history of Alzheimer’s, it is unclear whether her behavior stems from cognitive issues or disengagement. The situation poses challenges around addressing performance without risking claims of age or disability discrimination.
- ▪Amy has worked at the company for 15 years and is approaching or at retirement age.
- ▪She has exhibited increasing forgetfulness and repetitive behavior, impacting team projects.
- ▪Amy has shared concerns about her family history of Alzheimer’s and dementia, though she hasn’t linked it to her work performance.
- ▪The small office environment values long-term relationships, making performance discussions more sensitive.
- ▪Raising performance concerns could carry legal risks if perceived as age or disability discrimination.
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Good Job My Colleague Seems Totally Checked Out. I’m Afraid Saying Something Could Be Legally Dicey. Advice by Doree Shafrir May 05, 20261:00 PM Photo illustration by Slate. Photos by Deagreez/Getty Images Plus and AaronAmat/iStock/Getty Images Plus. Copy Link Share Share Comment Copy Link Share Share Comment Good Job is Slate’s advice column on work. Have a workplace problem big or small? Send it to Laura Helmuth and Doree Shafrir here. (It’s anonymous!) Dear Good Job, I work in a small office (fewer than 15 people) in a fairly niche industry. We’re a pretty close-knit group, and the vast majority of us have been here for a decade or more—we all love the work we do and get along really well.
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