Now that employers are subject to rules under the Americans with Disabilities Act, a few guidelines:
-- Don't pry into a worker's psychiatric history in response to casual remarks, such as: ''I'm stressed.''
-- First-line supervisors should refer mental illness to someone familiar with the Americans with Disabilities Act, such as human resources or an attorney.
-- If an employee requests an accommodation, ask for documentation of the illness, such as a doctor's report and a medical history.
-- Work with employee to identify possible accommodations, such as modified work schedule, later start times, short leaves of absence, or a private office.
-- If the request would provide an ''undue hardship'' for the business, you're not required to accommodate it.
-- Don't lower production standards, tolerate misconduct, or make up a job.
-- Don't discuss a person's disability with co-workers. Leave it up to the employee to make that disclosure.
Copyright 2005, by The McGraw-Hill Companies Inc. All rights reserved.
