Intoxication is perhaps quite fun for many until it turns into a chronic addiction. While there are many people who indulged in drug and alcohol abuse, things can get a little out of hand when it is the workplace. Though most workplaces strictly promote a drug-free work atmosphere, a recent report says that more than 70% of the American citizens who are suffering from addiction are mostly employed. More than 24% of employees have agreed to drink on the job even once.
These kinds of addictions start with casual usage and then gradually proceed to a chronic stage which turns into substance abuse. Such habits of the employees can lead to absenteeism, poor performance, dipping productivity levels, workplace injuries, and other factors which damage the work environment as well as put affect the other employees in the line of work.
If you are dealing with such problems as an employer; it is time to take things into your hand before it is too late. It is important for you to address drug and alcohol abuse problems in the workplace to get rid of them from the root. If you are not sure how to do that, here are some easy steps to follow.
1. Identify the Employees Who are Suffering from Substance Abuse
Alcohol or drug dependency is not that easy to identify when you have a lot of employees and you do not know them personally. However, there are some particular patterns that can help you.
a) Absenteeism – it is one of the most common symptoms that an employee is taking frequent sick leaves or coming late to work. There are also some cases where the employee had responded over the phone but did not actually show up. These are potential signs of addiction. The occurrence of such events takes place on Mondays and Fridays especially, before and after the weekend.
b) Behavioral Changes – When a person is suffering from addiction, there is a shift in behavior as well as physical appearance. Physical signs of smelling alcohol or pills, bloodshot eyes, fatigue, slumberous speech, etc refer to addiction. Similarly, one can observe changes in the behavior of the person. They are more prone to avoid social contact.
c) Deteriorating Work Performance – Drastic drop in performance and productivity could be a sign of addiction. Mostly they are distracted from work as they are more concentrated on the drugged feelings and withdrawal of it. Sloppy work performance and not meeting the deadline on a regular basis is a sign of addiction.
d) Lacking Discipline – Drugs and alcohol can make people easily irritated, argumentative, short-tempered, and not disciplined. They usually go through rapid mood swings or grumpy attitudes and less interaction takes place among co-workers.
These symptoms do not necessarily mean the person is addicted but these are the most common patterns seen and observed in a working person suffering from substance abuse.
2. Help the Employee Tackle Substance Abuse Wisely
If you notice such a person and address them directly about the abuse, they are more likely to avoid it or deny it. Not that you are capable of changing everyone’s life but it never hurts to try. Be calm, and patient and talk with clarity to make sure the employee understands what wrong has been done. They can be rude or dismissive but as an employer, you need to maintain your composure and address the problems clearly and loudly. Instead of termination, try to send the person to therapy who can convey better while determining the other side.
Addiction is a severe problem in America as well as around the globe. Perhaps this is the best time to embark on a healthy drug-free journey to bring a change to the world.
