INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Try to do this discreetly, via email if possible. You don't want to embarrass the employee, particularly if they have good reasons for their absence. Calmly explain your concerns about their absenteeism to them. Simply state that you have seen a pattern in their absenteeism, and that you want to determine if these absences are legitimate, or if you need to work together to improve the issue. Avoid stating any suspicions you have about their absences, as this may cause the employee to become defensive. Give the employee a chance to explain his absences. Be aware that he may have to share very personal information with you about a family crisis or health issue, so do your best to be compassionate and patient. Also be aware that he may not have a good excuse for his absence. In this case, you should still remain calm and concerned. It will not be helpful to scold the employee or make them feel even more embarrassed, particularly if you are interested in keeping them as an employee. Remember that it is not yours or the company's job to fix your employee's non-work related problems. Instead, your job is to provide them with the resources they need to do their job well. Explain that while absence is sometimes unavoidable, chronic absenteeism hurts the company and creates extra work for others. When your business is doing its peak volume, it's especially important for him to be there as scheduled. It can also create interpersonal conflict within the work team if people are picking up the slack for someone who does not adhere to the attendance policy. If you have determined that the employee's chronic absence is not related to legitimate issues, warn the employee that he needs to improve or face disciplinary action. Document the meeting and make it clear that a verbal warning was given. It is important to have evidence that you discussed the matter with the employee, and that it is clear what went on in the meeting. This could help avoid future disagreements about what went on and what did not.

SUMMARY: Ask your employee for a meeting. Explain the problem to them. Determine the Cause of Absence. Avoid taking responsibility for the employee's absence. Explain why absenteeism is a problem. Provide a verbal warning.

INPUT ARTICLE: Article: This is an important step in getting better. Oftentimes, depression makes you feel as though this is how you are supposed to feel, and identifying your depression helps you to treat it. Write down how you feel, and do it regularly. This will help to mentally separate you from your depression, and allow you to analyze and track your emotions, as well as provide valuable information to any doctor you see for treatment. . Even if you suspect you're feeling this way for some other reason, talk to your doctor about your symptoms. Your doctor should be able to direct you to valuable resources to help return yourself to a healthy state of mind. Bring in your description of how you're feeling. Describe the severity and the consistency of the feelings. Be totally honest with your doctor. Depression is dangerous. It can make you feel isolated, worthless, and empty. No matter how severe you feel that your depression is, tell someone you trust. If you're feeling suicidal, call a hotline at any time and talk to someone or call emergency services, such as by dialing 911 in the US: 1-800-SUICIDE (1-800-784-2433) or 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255) You can text 1-800-799-4TTY (1-800-799-4889) LGBT Youth Suicide Hotline: 1-866-4-U-TREVOR Depression can make it feel like you have no sense of purpose. It can make it difficult to get out of bed each day, much less do anything productive when you're out. The world can be overwhelming. To help yourself stay motivated and focused, it's important to establish clear and simple goals. Write out a list of things, even simple things, that you can do today to make yourself productive. Don't be afraid to list out extremely small things, like "Brush your teeth" or "Pick up the kids" or "Eat something" or "Don't smoke." Focus on the little stuff you need to do. Write out your accomplishments each day at the end of the day, if that works better for you. Listing out everything that you did will help you focus on your successes. Your moods are impacted by lots of different factors, but if your body isn't getting what it needs, then your brain isn't either. Exercise is shown to have a direct effect on your mood and overall happiness, releasing endorphins that help to counteract the effect of stress on the body and make you feel happy. You don't have to be sporty, or a jock. Find something that you enjoy doing. Start jogging, or hiking. Play squash. Do something that you might enjoy. Make sure to get 8 hours of sleep every day, and at the same time every day. Rest is essential in keeping your energy levels even throughout the day, which affects mood. What you eat affects your mood directly. Eating more complex carbohydrates and decreasing the amount of refined sugars and processed foods can help you feel better. Focus on getting as many leafy greens, whole grains, fresh vegetables, and fruits into your diet, and cutting out anything pre-prepared. Increase intake of omega 3 fatty acids (flaxseed, fish, walnuts, tofu): Omega 3 helps brain function and regulates mood Drink eight cups of water every day to stay hydrated. Lots of problems like headaches and tiredness can be attributed to minor dehydration, which can affect your mood as well. Studies show some connection between the levels of Vitamin D and overall happiness. This is important for everyone, but especially in those with depression. Seasonal depression often occurs in the wintertime, when the days are shorter and we don't get a lot of sun. But a good dose of natural light will do wonders for your mood. If you live in a place with not a lot of sunlight, invest in a good light box. If these are too expensive for you, install bulbs in your lamps that have natural light as opposed to fluorescent light.

SUMMARY:
Name what you're feeling and check for signs of depression. Talk to your doctor about treatment options Reach out to someone any time you can control it. Write out a to-do list each day. Try to exercise at least 30 minutes a day. Change your diet. Get some sun.