my employee says she has “pregnancy brain”
A reader writes:
My lead administrative assistant, who is often incredible, is pregnant. In the previous few weeks, she has made some very vital errors, two of which specifically have ended up inflicting a good little bit of drama, growing workload for others in my division, and likewise costing our group a not-insignificant chunk of cash. She has been profusely apologetic about these errors, and blamed them on her “pregnancy brain.”
I do know that is a actual physiological factor! But I additionally want her to be extra cautious about element work. I’ve talked together with her about slowing down and taking time to double-check the initiatives she’s engaged on, however issues are nonetheless slipping by means of the cracks.
I clearly must have one other discuss together with her, however I’m involved about the way to body that dialog. While she’s blaming her points on “pregnancy brain,” I’m deeply uncomfortable doing so myself (and actually suspect it could be actively discriminatory!). As a lady myself, I’ve no want to attribute efficiency points to one thing that’s nonetheless, sadly, used to discriminate in opposition to girls within the workforce, or to pathologize being pregnant. I really feel prefer it could be vital to mentor her round utilizing such language to clarify efficiency points, however I’m undecided if that’s even applicable for me to do, particularly when there actually is a physiological challenge right here. Do you will have any recommendation for 1) being supportive however agency in speaking together with her about these items; 2) staying on the proper facet of discrimination points after I do?
I reply this query over at Inc. at this time, the place I’m revisiting letters which were buried within the archives right here from years in the past (and generally updating/increasing my solutions to them). You can learn it right here.
