Tread carefully when considering termination of employee with emotional issues

Reminder to managers: Unless you’re a certified professional, don’t act as an employee’s psychiatrist — even if you’re worried the employee’s actions could put her co-workers in jeopardy.

That’s the message in a recent case out of Erie, PA, where a city firefighter alleged she’d been fired in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

The woman, Mary Wolski, worked as a firefighter for several years, eventually becoming a fire truck driver. She apparently performed her duties satisfactorily.

But then her mother fell ill, and died within a year. The death of her mother caused Wolski significant grief and resulted in her taking extended leave for depression and anxiety issues.

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