Philsbury Cookie

Key Facts

• Anna has been working for GC for more than 5 years and was known as a “star performer”.
• Anna’s colleagues and bosses value and respect her opinion
• Anna works part time but performing at 100% capacity
• Anna was straggling with work life balance                
• Anna is stressed for two main reasons:
• She is neglecting her family and not spending quality time with her 18 month old
• She is not contributing equally from a work perspective to her peers
• Anna’s physical and mental health was being ignored as result of her stress.
• Anna feels frustrated watching her peers pass her towards partnerships and promotions.
• Anna feels impatient during social interactions, barely takes lunch breaks, and constantly feels pressure to work at home.
• Anna misses out on important decisions because of her part time schedule that doesn’t allow her to contribute completely.
• Communication with the management seeking help on Anna’s stress level being part time have not contributed to any resolution
• Anna feels very isolated with no one around her who can provide her advice and guidance
• Anna feels overwhelmed with work, extracurricular and spending time with her family
• Anna is missing the challenge in working on client projects and not able to come to term with her management role where she only a team player instead of the team-lead
• Anna is torn between the need stay on her career path and spend quality time with her daughter and family
• Anna feels that she no one understand her special predicament of being a new mom returning to work on a management role and staying competitive
• Anna’s management team appear supportive but also relying on Anna for ad-hoc assignments

Symptoms

• Anna is questioning a lot about her life, whether part-time work is for her, or she should   continue in consulting or even with the GC Company overall
• Anna is working extra hours to compensate to be at par and contributing equally as her colleagues
• Anna has had open conversations with her management that she is having troubles with her work life balance
• Anna is overwhelmed between being a part-time mother and a part-time star performer.
• Anna feels guilty for not contributing enough at work and compensates the perceived notion by working extra during her home days.
• Anna’s health suffering due to stress and overworking beyond 60-hr workweek.
• Anna needs improved work life balance and considering leaving the company to achieve that.
• Sleeping, eating, patience level, and emotional stability have all been impacted by her stress level

OB Problem

Anna’s self-esteem diminishes due to work over load. She’s having a hard time managing her work while taking care of her 18month old toddler. As a result, her goals are not aligned with the company’s. Anna is dissatisfied with her contributions to the team. As her stress level increases, she is worried she is going to burn out, and requires a change need to be done to avoid any health related issues.

Assumptions:

• On a part-time basis Anna is not underperforming. There have been no statements or claims that her level of her work needs to increase. The feeling is internal.
• Her marriage and family life is intact – nothing to suggest that she was not spending enough time with her family
• Anna’s husband is also very supportive and has not said anything negatively about her mothering of Kristen.  
• Income is not an issue

Analysis

The General Adaptation Syndrome is a stress experience that consists of three stages:  alarm reaction, resistance, and exhaustion. This is very detrimental to one’s health, and is the cause of various other issues. The alarm stage occurred from the stress she endured from trying to a balance the duties of a great employee and great mother. This put a lot of unexpected pressure on Anna. The resistance was shown when Anna put in extra hours of work, even at home while during her daughter’s naptime. The stage of exhaustion is seen in Anna’s conversation with the program manager. Anna is dissatisfied with her contributions at work, frustrated about missing out on significant parts of the job, and she questions if its even possible to do consulting part time. As a result, this left Anna in an unhealthy state; physically, spiritually and emotionally.