In my opinion, the most demotivating part of Harper’s job is the loss of a work-life balance. She previously had a great work -life balance with her previous boss and when David started, it went downhill. A lack of a work-life balance can be detrimental to mental health; being too consumed with work with no time for family, friends or hobbies is bound to make anyone unhappy.

If I were an HR manager meeting with David, I would advise him to take a closer look at the distribution of tasks, projects and responsibilities. Since Jose left, Harper took on some of his responsibilities; if another employee can share this load, they should. While I understand the transition for David is also probably overwhelming, he is the foundation of his team. I would advise on time management and setting aside time to work with Harper on her career development and discuss concerns that she has, reassuring that the line of communication is open.

The downside of losing Harper would be a loss of morale and productivity. Since Harper assumed some of Jose’s responsibilities, Marketable would be losing two people, per se. They would also lose a great employee who is dedicated to her work and eager to learn, help and excel.