| Alcohol misuse is a growing issue within the workplace. | | | | alcohol-related problem: |
| Alcoholism affects people in all social and economic | | | | * An alcohol smell |
| situations, and its effects can be found in both white- | | | | * An unsteady walk |
| and blue-collar jobs. Though the common stereotype is | | | | * Red, or bloodshot, eyes |
| that alcoholics are homeless and unemployed, it has | | | | * Sleeping while on the job |
| been estimated that around 75% of alcoholics are | | | | * Excessive use of breath mints or mouthwash |
| employed full-time. | | | | * Frequent lateness |
| Some workplace studies suggest that alcohol has | | | | * Use of sick leave that is excessive |
| contributed, and may even have been the cause of, as | | | | * Absences from work that are unauthorized, or |
| much as 25% of all workplace accidents. In addition, | | | | unplanned |
| lost productivity and absenteeism due to alcohol abuse | | | | * Sloppy or careless work, and missed deadlines |
| has been estimated to cost employers billions of | | | | * Strained relationships with co-workers |
| dollars. | | | | * Foul-tempered and argumentative, especially in the |
| One aspect of alcoholism is its ability to affect people | | | | morning |
| close to the alcoholic. After family members, work | | | | If, as the employer, you determine that alcohol is likely |
| colleagues are the next most common people to be | | | | a problem with your employee, confront them with |
| affected by an alcoholic and their drinking. Often, the | | | | your findings, and provide them with information about |
| people that work with the alcoholic attempt to cover | | | | any company benefits that can help them deal with |
| for them, which makes working with them even more | | | | their problem. Be prepared for the employee to |
| difficult, and simply delays the consequences for the | | | | become angry, or deny they have a problem. |
| alcoholic. | | | | In the case of an employee who is unwilling to admit |
| From the perspective of the authorities and | | | | they have a problem, an intervention may be |
| governmental agencies, a person's decision to intake | | | | attempted by the employer, if there is no family or |
| alcoholic beverages is a private matter. When their | | | | friends willing or able to step in and help. |
| drinking begins to have an effect on work | | | | The role of the employer should not be as an enabler, |
| performance, and begins to potentially endanger those | | | | but rather to support the employee, and provide them |
| around the alcoholic, the employer should be | | | | with an opportunity to recover, and keep their job. |
| concerned, and has a right to become involved. | | | | The employer is, however, within their right to let the |
| If you are the employer or supervisor of a person with | | | | employee go, if their work is suffering. Experts suggest |
| an alcohol problem, it is important to stay in that role | | | | that employers do this with a supportive gesture, |
| when dealing with that person. It is not your job to | | | | indicating that when the employee is able to conquer |
| diagnose alcoholism or any other disease. Stick with | | | | their problem, that they might have a second chance |
| supervising your employee, and making judgement only | | | | at the company. This provides the employee with an |
| as to their ability to carry out their job duties. | | | | incentive for getting clean. |
| The following signs may indicate that a person has an | | | | |