What can I do at work to help someone when they feel very different at work, home and around other people?

Short answer

Work, home and social settings can ask for different things from a person.

What this can look like

Someone may be productive at work and have little capacity left elsewhere, or the reverse.

Why it can happen

A manager’s job is to make work clear and manageable, not to judge whether an employee “should” cope because they cope elsewhere.

What might help

Avoid judging capacity from one setting. Set sustainable expectations for the work you manage.

What the research helps explain

A broad work pattern can be shaped by task demands, health, stress, recovery, environment and support. Public information can help leaders improve conditions and have better conversations; it cannot decide what label, if any, applies to a staff member.

What can vary

Do not diagnose, compare suffering, demand private information or assume that visible output tells you the full cost. New, severe or concerning changes may need appropriate professional advice.

For this situation

For you, focus on the role’s actual demands and the supports available within it.

More info and original sources

Poko summarises the relevance of public original sources and links out for anyone who wants to read more.

• About psychosocial hazards — Australian guidance on identifying and managing work conditions that can create psychosocial harm.
• Executive Functions — Explains attention, working memory and flexibility as distinct, context-sensitive processes.