This is textbook bipolar behavior -- periods of intense productivity offset by periods where you basically stay in bed for a few days. I suspect he works the way he does because it's how he has had to set up his life to be able to keep a job. Work is a healthy outlet for manic energy, but it burns you out fast and you have to hibernate for a bit when your mood turns. I know I personally am toxic as hell if I have to be at work when I'm in a depressive state, so it's better for everyone.
I say this because bipolar disorder is a protected condition under the ADA, which allows for work modification. We tend to end up in positions where deadlines are soft and there's a lot of individual work that can be done asynchronously, so there are a lot of us in software.
This may not have been the case with him, but I do think there's a lack of awareness of mental health issues in the workplace. People who struggle with mental health can still be great employees in the right circumstances. If there were better awareness that people struggle with issues like these, I think there would be fewer issues with co-workers.
I say this because bipolar disorder is a protected condition under the ADA, which allows for work modification. We tend to end up in positions where deadlines are soft and there's a lot of individual work that can be done asynchronously, so there are a lot of us in software.
This may not have been the case with him, but I do think there's a lack of awareness of mental health issues in the workplace. People who struggle with mental health can still be great employees in the right circumstances. If there were better awareness that people struggle with issues like these, I think there would be fewer issues with co-workers.