Quiet shifts for an anxious employee
- Kind
- Practical scenario
Prompt
You are a shift supervisor at a busy cafe. One of your best employees, who is 19, tells you privately that she has been having panic attacks and asks to be scheduled only on quiet weekday shifts. Two other staff members have already complained to you that they always get stuck with the weekend rushes. What would you do?
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After you practice: what this question tests and how to approach it
What this question tests
- Professionalism and integrity
- Empathy and compassion
- Teamwork and collaboration
How to approach this question
This panel interview question tests whether you can support one employee's mental health while staying fair to a team that already feels the schedule is unfair. Name each party: the 19-year-old who trusted you, the two staff members carrying the weekend rushes, the rest of the team, and the cafe itself. Keep her confidence by not explaining her request to others, and think about what you'd ask her, such as how long she needs the change and whether some busier shifts could work with support. Look for options that share the load, like a rotating weekend schedule, a partial adjustment for her, or a clear process anyone can use to request changes. Weigh what you owe her privately against what you owe everyone publicly. Land on a specific plan and say how you'd talk to the staff who complained.
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