A little while ago, I asked about my relationship with the man I’m seeing in connection with my company recruiting employees for early retirement.

Despite being busy, several male members kindly answered my question and shared their advice as seniors in life. I sincerely appreciate it. 【Update】 I worked over the G.W. holiday and managed to review the retirement benefits for all approximately 1,500 eligible employees, as well as create a thick PowerPoint presentation for the retirement information sessions. Since almost everyone who applied has now been accounted for, I’ll be helping the HR department through the end of September. This will involve organizing eligible employees by region—Hokkaido, Tohoku, and so on—holding retirement information sessions mainly about post-retirement procedures such as social insurance and Hello Work, coordinating with their new employers, and answering questions. Our company is a long-established Japanese corporation with overseas operations. However, under a representative recruited from a foreign-affiliated company, English has become the official language of the company, much like at Rakuten under President M. All employees—not only those based at headquarters, but also everyone working at branches and factories from Hokkaido to Okinawa—have to take the TOEIC several times a year. Managers are demoted if their score is 700 or below. (General employees are expected to score at least 500.) In fact, some managers have already been demoted. For example: ★ Someone may be very knowledgeable about finance or legal matters but not good at English. ★ Someone may be good at English but struggle with presentations. I believe everyone has their own strengths and weaknesses. Since January, I have been working every day with the president as a member of the Corporate Planning Office (the president’s office). I told him, “Just because someone returned to Japan after growing up in an English-speaking country and can speak English doesn’t necessarily mean they’re intelligent. What matters is not simply speaking English, but what you communicate in English, don’t you think? English is merely a means of communication, not the objective.” He agreed, but said, “Even if it’s only a means, from now on, people will at least need to be able to speak English…” 【Outcome of My Discussion with Him】 I explained how difficult things would be for me until the end of September, and he understood and agreed to the following: 1. We’ll continue meeting twice a month as before. 2. We’ll avoid having an adult relationship (intimate) for six months. 3. However, since I live alone and am working extremely long hours, he’s worried about me. He would like to see me every week just to make sure I’m doing all right, and have dinner together. We’ve agreed to wait until October or later before resuming the adult relationship (intimate). 【Question】 I’m not actually in charge of early retirement or restructuring. I only came to support the HR department for six months because I happen to hold a qualification as a social insurance and labor consultant. Nevertheless, both current employees and former employees see me as someone responsible for restructuring, and I’ve been subjected to unreasonable and unpleasant treatment. I’m sure this is the case at any company, but when early retirement is offered, the atmosphere inevitably becomes tense. Since money is involved, both the employees leaving and those remaining have complicated feelings as they continue working for another six months. I think all I can do is explain the schedule to my subordinates at a meeting sometime this month and somehow make it through to the end of September. 【The Problem / My Question】 I worked through the G.W. holiday, and lately I’ve become mentally exhausted. I have no appetite, can’t sleep at night, and don’t enjoy anything anymore. I have 42 days of unused paid leave carried over from the previous fiscal year, so I’m thinking of taking some time off in addition to my substitute holidays. The man I’m seeing has also told me, “There are other employees who can cover for you, so why don’t you take a little time off?” If any male members have visited a psychosomatic medicine clinic or mental health clinic, could you please tell me whether they prescribe sleeping pills? I’m extremely mentally exhausted and finding things very hard right now. I’m sorry to trouble you when you’re busy, but I would be very grateful for any answers. Thank you very much.