Becoming concerned about coworker

Habata

I work with someone who is in charge of a specific area.

More and more I keep having to explain rudimentary parts of it to them.

They keep forgetting details of things they were deeply involved in.

Recently the person started acting strangely.

They're sending group messages to other workers that don't make logical sense.

Initially I was worried that the person was embarrassing the team.

Now I'm concerned that they're not 100% well?

The person is relatively young, they're not getting old and forgetful. I don't think it's alcohol or drugs.

But they're getting so erratic that I'm almost concerned that it's a hr issue?

Jim_Hodge

Nobody here knows him or has seen the change you're referring to, so advice will be limited. Speak to HR or Occ Health.

fits

Something similar happened in my workplace a few years ago. It turned out to be a degenerative disease and they have since passed away. I don’t know how to advise you.

thefa

If I was anyway friendly with them, I’d try to broach the topic with them before HR.

Start a friendly chat and ask them about one of the group messages and what they meant by it for example. You might get some more context or might not but worth a try IMO.

Mrs OBumble

Speak to their manager or HR.

Andrea B.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058300201/becoming-concerned-about-coworker

Could be one of many reasons, but well done on concern. If speaking to management/ HR, follow with an email to them outlining the conversation you just had about your colleagueand why you had it.

This is in case it ever got to be twisted from concern to a complaint or confidentiality gets breached.

HR and management work for the company. Not the employee.

Tork

OP, you'd be surprised how young people can be when they start showing signs of dementia (assuming that's what's going on here). I know somebody who got a diagnosis in their early fifties and had to leave their job because of it. I've since heard of somebody else equally young who started making loads of mistakes in work and had to retire early. Your best bet would be to contact HR or their line manager if they have one.