“My boss is crazy!”

Maybe you’ve heard this from a friend or coworker, or maybe you’ve said it yourself. Sometimes this means nothing more than that the boss is behaving badly in the speaker’s opinion. Other times, the boss might be exhibiting behaviors that deserve further attention. Either way, this is  an example of ableist language, but it’s worth looking at how an actual mental health issue in a boss or manager can affect employees in the workplace. 

Bosses are people too, with human troubles

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, 1 in 5 Americans lives with a mental illness; the National Institute for Mental Illness reports that only 46 percent of them get treatment. One in 10 suffers from a substance use disorder at some point in their lives, and only about 11 percent of them receive the treatment they need. 

Of course, leaders and managers also have the usual human experiences that can negatively affect their mental health: divorce, grief and loss, physical health problems, and more. 

At some point in your working life, you may need to cope with a manager or business owner with an untreated mental illness. Some research suggests that mental illnesses are more prevalent among entrepreneurs, something you should be aware of if you work directly with a business owner or start-up team. And working in a family business may expose you to unhealthy psychological dynamics that don’t tend to arise among unrelated managers and their teams. 

Signs your boss is living with a mental health or substance abuse problem

The National Alliance on Mental Illness identifies numerous signs you might observe if a person is living with a mental illness.  

Be aware of behaviors like the following – especially if they are new:

• Mood swings or erratic behavior

• Unexplained absences, missing important meetings

• Substance use on the job, or appearing drunk or high

• Sudden changes in work performance

• Financial or legal problems in the business

• Unusual complaints from vendors or customers  

Employees who observe these behaviors sometimes normalize them. Business owners and leaders can often get away with being “quirky” and taking a lot of latitude over their schedules. And business problems can stem from a lot of different causes other than mental illness. 

Protect yourself from a workplace affected by a leader’s mental health

Ultimately, your boss’ personal problem isn’t yours to solve and making it better is out of your control. But there are steps you can take to protect your well-being.

• Document the person’s behaviors. Keep a journal. Be sure to make note of how specifically the behavior affects people’s jobs or the company.

• If there is an HR department, consider raising the issue with them.

• Offer support if you feel safe and comfortable doing so. For example, you might invite them to a support group you attend.

• Have an exit strategy. 

• Seek support to maintain your perspective and sense of what’s normal and what’s not. This step is especially important if you’re new to the workforce. Talk to coworkers about their experiences. Discuss work norms and expectations with people who have different jobs or different backgrounds. An Empower Work peer counselor can also help you sort it out.

*Note: Empower Work provides non-legal support for workplace challenges. This information, while authoritative, is not legal advice or guaranteed for legality. Employment laws and regulations vary by state. We recommend consulting with state resources for specific interpretation and decisions. If you believe you were discriminated against in violation of the law, we recommend you seek legal advice.